I don't believe in free will. This is why.

Summary

The script delves into the concept of free will, arguing that it doesn't exist due to the deterministic nature of physics and quantum mechanics' inherent randomness. It explains that human behavior is governed by the same physical laws that dictate particle interactions, suggesting that decisions are not freely made but are a result of deterministic brain functions with occasional quantum randomness. The speaker, a physicist, critiques the notion that free will is necessary for addressing climate change, emphasizing the importance of understanding human cognition and societal structures instead. The script also touches on the philosophical debate surrounding free will, introducing compatibilism and libertarianism, and concludes with the speaker's stance on 'hard incompatibilism'.

Takeaways

• 🧐 The universe is governed by a combination of deterministic and random quantum physics, which questions the concept of free will.
• 🤔 The standard model of particle physics describes all known particles, which collectively make up humans and their behaviors.
• 🚫 Despite knowing the equations for human behavior, we cannot practically solve them due to the vast number of particles involved.
• 🔬 Quantum mechanics introduces an element of randomness through quantum jumps, which are unpredictable and uncontrollable.
• 🌌 Emergent properties arise from the interactions of particles, but they do not override the underlying physical laws.
• ⚖️ Philosophers have debated the nature of free will, with some arguing for compatibilism (free will is compatible with determinism and indeterminism).
• 🚫 The speaker, a physicist, leans towards hard incompatibilism, concluding that free will does not exist within the framework of known physical laws.
• 💡 Free will is sometimes redefined by philosophers to mean decisions that are largely independent from external factors and driven by internal deliberation.
• 🧠 Neuroscientists focus on whether decisions are made consciously or unconsciously, which is distinct from the philosophical debate on free will.
• 🌱 Quantum fluctuations in the early universe may have played a role in shaping the world, but the details were not determined at the Big Bang.
• 🌍 The belief in free will can lead to misguided approaches to societal problems, like climate change, by overestimating individual control and willpower.
• 📚 Understanding the physics behind decision-making and societal structures can lead to more effective strategies for addressing complex issues.

Q & A

What is the speaker's stance on the existence of free will?

The speaker believes that free will does not exist, aligning with the philosophical position known as 'hard incompatibilism'.

What is the standard model of particle physics, and how does it relate to human behavior?

The standard model of particle physics is a theory that describes the fundamental particles and forces that make up the universe. It implies that human behavior is also described by the mathematics of this model, although it is practically impossible to solve the equations for the vast number of particles that constitute a human.

How does the concept of determinism in physics affect the discussion on free will?

Determinism in physics suggests that if you know the properties and motions of particles at one time, you can calculate what happens at any later time. This deterministic nature of physics, combined with the random quantum jumps, implies that our actions and decisions may not be freely chosen but are instead determined by the laws of physics and random quantum events.

What is an 'emergent property' and why is it relevant to the discussion on free will?

Emergent properties are behaviors or properties that arise from the interactions of a system's components, which do not exist at the level of the individual components. In the context of free will, the idea is that while human decisions may be emergent properties of the brain's complex interactions, they are still governed by the underlying physical laws and not by a separate entity called 'free will'.

What is the 'Free Will Theorem' and what does it suggest about human and particle free will?

The 'Free Will Theorem' is a mathematical theorem proved by John Conway and Simon Kochen. It states that if humans have free will, then elementary particles also have free will, and vice versa. However, the speaker argues that this theorem does not provide evidence for the existence of free will, as it is based on the assumption that particles could have free will, which is not a widely accepted idea.

What is the difference between 'compatibilism' and 'libertarianism' in the context of free will?

Compatibilism is the philosophical view that free will is compatible with determinism and indeterminism, as understood by the laws of nature. Most contemporary philosophers are compatibilists. Libertarianism, on the other hand, asserts that free will exists and is incompatible with determinism. It often involves the belief in non-physical aspects of free will or the rejection of established science to accommodate free will.

How does the speaker address the misconception that the absence of free will implies a lack of personal responsibility?

The speaker argues that the absence of free will does not imply a lack of personal responsibility. They suggest that understanding the deterministic and indeterministic nature of the universe can help us make better decisions and take responsibility for our actions within the framework of our cognitive abilities and societal structures.

What is the speaker's view on the relevance of free will to addressing climate change?

The speaker criticizes the notion that believing in free will is necessary for addressing climate change. They argue that the belief in free will can lead to unrealistic expectations about individual willpower and can misdirect the focus from systemic and collective solutions to the climate crisis.

How does the speaker explain the illusion of free will in decision-making?

The speaker uses the idea from Wittgenstein that we cannot know the result of a calculation our brain performs before we complete it, which gives us the impression that our decisions are 'free' until we reach a conclusion. However, these decisions ultimately follow from deterministic brain functions and occasional random elements.

What is the speaker's perspective on the role of quantum mechanics in the debate about free will?

While acknowledging the random quantum jumps as part of quantum mechanics, the speaker does not believe that these random events provide a basis for free will. They argue that attributing free will to particles based on their indeterministic behavior is not a valid argument and does not translate to human free will.

What does the speaker suggest about the impact of the belief in free will on societal issues?

The speaker suggests that the belief in free will can lead to misplaced blame on individuals for societal problems, such as climate change. They argue that understanding the limits of human cognition and the deterministic nature of the universe can help in addressing societal issues more effectively through collective action and systemic change.