From: mk_thisisit
The concept of free will, defined as the false belief that one’s intentions and actions are independent of prior biological and environmental factors, is argued to be nonexistent [00:16:02]. Proponents of this view assert that humans are complex biological machines, the result of their biological history and interactions with the environment, neither of which is under their control [00:00:03], [00:01:50], [00:02:04].
Humans as Biological Machines
Humans are fundamentally biological machines, similar to worms, monkeys, or trees [00:00:30], [00:20:40]. While exceptionally complicated, they are composed of the same basic ingredients and operate according to a shared biological plan [00:20:54], [00:21:20]. For example, a human neuron is indistinguishable from a fly neuron under a microscope, differing only in quantity and complexity [00:00:38], [00:22:15], [00:22:24]. The sophisticated behaviors unique to humans, such as philosophy or opera, are seen as emergent properties of a sufficiently large number of interconnected neurons, not a sign of free agency [00:23:01], [00:23:12].
Determinants of Behavior
Behavior, whether considered good or bad, is the culmination of a vast array of factors that are beyond individual control [00:03:41], [00:05:38]. These determinants span multiple timescales:
- Immediate Brain Activity The state of the brain seconds before an action [00:03:44].
- Recent Influences Sensory stimuli from minutes prior, and the morning’s hormone levels [00:03:50].
- Life Events Experiences from months or years past, including trauma, falling in love, or depression [00:04:03].
- Developmental Stages Puberty, which sees significant brain development, and childhood [00:04:17], [00:04:21].
- Early Life & Genetics Fetal life and an individual’s genes [00:04:24].
- Ancestral & Environmental Factors Culture inherited from ancestors, the ecosystems where that culture was created, and the evolution of the species [00:04:26], [00:04:29], [00:04:32].
This combination of elements leaves no room for freedom of action independent of past events [00:04:44], [00:04:48]. The argument against free will is not that people don’t make decisions or intend to act, but that the reasons for those intentions are entirely determined by prior conditions [00:15:16], [00:15:34].
Implications of No Free Will
If free will does not exist, then traditional notions of blame, punishment, praise, and reward become senseless [00:00:13], [00:05:04], [00:05:12]. No one truly “deserves” anything because their actions are the inevitable outcome of prior, uncontrollable events [00:05:18], [00:05:20].
- Criminal Justice System: Prison, meritocracy, and severe punishments (like the death penalty) are deemed irrational under this framework [00:00:19], [00:05:47], [00:05:53]. The practice of prohibiting the death penalty for individuals with an IQ below 70, for instance, highlights an inherent acknowledgment that some cognitive states diminish responsibility [00:00:24], [00:09:33], [00:09:41]. However, this is seen as an arbitrary line, as countless other biological and environmental factors similarly remove an individual’s control over their actions [00:10:14], [00:10:35], [00:10:44].
- Societal Protection: While punishment for retributive reasons is rejected, society still needs to protect itself from dangerous individuals [00:06:32], [00:06:35]. This is likened to locking up a car with faulty brakes – it’s a dangerous machine, not one with an “evil soul” [00:06:44], [00:06:49]. The focus shifts from moral culpability to preventing harm and, if possible, “repairing” the individual [00:07:17], [00:07:23].
Historical Precedents for Shifting Beliefs
History provides examples where societies have abandoned beliefs in free will in specific domains, leading to positive outcomes:
- Witchcraft: The realization that witches do not control the weather led to the end of burning old women at the stake, making the world “much happier” [00:35:11], [00:35:28], [00:35:44].
- Epilepsy: Understanding that epileptic seizures are due to neurological disorders, not demonic possession, transformed treatment from persecution to medical care [00:35:50], [00:36:01], [00:36:03].
- Dyslexia: Recognizing dyslexia as a neurodevelopmental difficulty, rather than laziness or stupidity, allowed for more effective teaching methods and prevented children from growing up with false self-perceptions [00:36:48], [00:37:11], [00:37:42], [00:37:53].
- Slavery: The global shift from accepting slavery to condemning it demonstrates humanity’s capacity to change deeply held beliefs about human autonomy and moral responsibility [00:38:35], [00:39:02], [00:39:49].
These examples suggest that understanding the biological and deterministic nature of human behavior leads to a “better place” for humanity [00:38:19], [00:39:35].
Debunking Counterarguments
Quantum Physics and Chaos
While acknowledging that reality includes quantum physics and its inherent uncertainty [00:26:05], the speaker argues that this does not support free will:
- Scale Problem: Quantum uncertainty at the subatomic level is far too small to influence the functioning of a single neuron, let alone the entire brain [00:27:11], [00:30:31]. The required “23 orders of magnitude” leap for quantum events to affect molecular oscillations in a neuron is mathematically impossible [00:27:32], [00:27:37], [00:28:04].
- Randomness vs. Free Will: Even if quantum events could influence behavior, they would lead to purely random and inconsistent actions, which is not what proponents of free will typically envision [00:28:25], [00:28:44]. Free will is usually associated with a “moral compass” and consistent decision-making [00:28:34].
- Butterfly Effect: While the butterfly effect highlights sensitive dependence on initial conditions and makes many things unpredictable [00:31:37], [00:31:43], unpredictability is not the same as a lack of determinism [00:32:11], [00:32:36]. Chaotic systems remain deterministic in nature [00:42:11].
Consciousness
The speaker believes there is no relationship between free will and consciousness [00:32:54], [00:32:58]. Regardless of whether actions are conscious or unconscious, the same biological mechanisms underpin behavior [00:33:09], [00:33:12]. For instance, fish and humans both exhibit behavior, and while humans have a nervous system capable of consciousness, the underlying mechanisms for behavior are identical [00:33:24], [00:33:27]. The speaker admits difficulty in fully understanding consciousness but maintains it does not impact the argument for the absence of free will [00:33:50], [00:34:03].
Conclusion
The speaker concludes that free will does not exist [00:00:00], [00:01:35], [00:01:42]. The burden of proof lies with those who claim free will exists to demonstrate how behavior can be independent of biological and environmental factors [00:16:41], [00:17:11], [00:19:35]. While individuals may struggle to shed the intuitive feeling of agency, continued scientific understanding of human behavior is expected to lead to a more compassionate and rational world [00:34:33], [00:34:57]. This shift in understanding, akin to abandoning beliefs in witches or demons, promises a “better place” [00:38:24], [00:39:39], where judgments based on perceived moral failing are replaced by a focus on underlying biological and environmental causes.