Free Will and Determinism: A Pragmatic View | William James Pragmatism Lecture 3 

I think the mystery of human consciousness (Chalmer's Hard Problem of Consciousness) allows for those on the pro-free will side of the debate to still hold some credibility in their views, even in an increasingly scientific, deterministic world. I believe this strange subjective private experience that we call consciousness is so powerful in arguing for free will - this consciousness allows us to reflect on, consider, weigh up, critique and analyse situations of both internal and external worlds. And although many will just say that the brain activity I am describing can be reduced down to chemical reactions and neurons firing, I still beg you to grapple with that final frontier of consciousness (past Dennett's easy problems): qualia. Why do we contain that 'inner movie'? The fact of the matter is, if we were just reactive machines or 'philosophical zombies', as Chalmers likes to call the concept, with no subjective experience of the world, no conscious experience, then it would be impossible to deny determinism. We would be much easier to reduce down to the fundamental natural laws and place into the great causal chain. However, we do have consciousness and it still remains in our way - and it will continue to stand in the way of the determinist as well until Chalmer's Hard Problem is solved.

was waiting for this video specifically! makes me think sometimes about the clockmaker theory, the universe was just made and set to start and then everything that happens in the universe is just set in stone by a series of events that lead to another. makes me think if all our decisions are just made from a bunch of molecules reacting in our head

You are right! "It is much more nuanced than that": A deep understanding of determinism and its real implications (and hence what IS and IS NOT compatible with it) really requires a good knowledge of fundamental physics, specially quantum mechanics and special relativity. Most people who talk or have talked about determinism really do not understand it deeply.

Great video, I havent heard of this pragmatist way of looking at it before. I'd probably bet on the free-willist over the determinist too, but that doesnt change the fact I consider determinism to be closer to the truth. Not sure how to feel about that

Great video, topic and examples. Thank You! One question I deduct from the pragmatic view is How do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time believe in their capacity to transform? The answer, for me personally, is very adapting to context and relies on values, experiences etc. So I wonder how praise and punishment can or should be ultimately determined. Do we rely on sciences/psychology to tell how ‘free’ an act was. So an arbitrary crime is to be punished more than a crime that is rooted in unfavourable circumstances? In German law this is actually anchored (to an extent) so that personal motives do affect the trial and the judgement.

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We aren’t completely free and we aren’t completely determined from the start as if we were completely determined human actions and behavior could be precisely determined but Dostoevsky stated that if you give a man everything he’ll just burn it down which shows that there is something greater going on in the mysterious nature of human consciousness

HOPEFULLY THIS HELPS YOU SPACE CADETS. Diff angle: Pre-determinism vs Pre-disposition? Another important construct: DOF (degrees of freedom); positive correlative relationship with size of frontal lobe.

Salmon 😂🐟 Also, Personally I believe it the compatibility of determinism & free will🙏🏽

Based on the portrait in the thumbnail I thought you were about to go tell me to clean my room before I read the title

If disbelief in free will has utility, it will be found in the designers of superior social institutions.

your channel really deserves to grow much more!

This is literally about the last few pages of the lecture.

the argument about the identical future to the present due to determinism is just... wrong. I don't think he understood what determinism means

Sir according to instrumentalist universe deterministic or compatiblism or indeterministic?

Well shucks hello again

I don't think it is a good idea to include belief in your definition of pragmatism. I apply my pragmatism to the very concept of belief and find it not useful at all. As soon as you start believing in something your natural confirmation bias kicks in, and you set yourself up for being totally wrong. As a practical matter I will accept those things that are obvious or easily demonstrable with caution and everything else with increasing levels of disregard. Belief just isn't practical or helpful.

THIS FALLS UNDER THE "NONSENSICAL", RIDICULOUS QUESTION. LIKE THE QUESTION, WHICH CAME FIRST, THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG? ASKING THIS QUESTION, IS WORTHY ONLY, FOR ENTERTAINMENT, BUT NOT OF ANY SERIOUS DEVOTION. EARTHLINGS. LOL.