tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13600980.post883136159403732330..comments2015-11-22T06:29:45.502-05:00Comments on NKU Philosophy: Is Free Will an Illusion?Rudy Garnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12163999999536023682noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13600980.post-70585550403661345712011-12-08T19:18:43.536-05:002011-12-08T19:18:43.536-05:00From a layman's perspective, much of the philo...From a layman's perspective, much of the philosophical texts that I have read could be interpreted as a less empirical type of psychology or an alternative form of math. That being said, philosophy will benefit immensely from using scientific processes when dealing with issues like free will, consciousness, etc. <br /><br />As for free will, I would assume that quick actions, such as the decision about whether to move left or right when running for a baseball, are instinctive and not "free" decisions. A deer makes the same type of instantaneous "choices" when fleeing from a predator.<br /><br />Human beings, unlike most other animals, are able to plan out projects; in these instances, we often take days/months to come to a decision and seem to utilize our rational mind to achieve this action. I don't see how science could ever determine whether or not these types of choices are free or not. I can't think of any experimental design which would answer this question. Maybe one exists. <br /><br />Perhaps it is better if we are not able to determine whether our decisions are "free" or not. If scientists/philosophers ever prove beyond a reasonable doubt that free will is an illusion, it will have significant, unpredictable ramifications on society (at least on American society).Anthony Hopperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15708347177061466201noreply@blogger.com