Do We Have Free Will or Are We Predetermined?

The question of whether we are fundamentally free or determined in our thoughts and actions has been in the middle of philosophical debate for many centuries. This is our take on the subject.
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FURTHER READING
“The history of philosophy has been dominated by competing arguments around the ideas of Free Will and Determinism. Simply stated, the issue hangs on whether human beings should be thought of as fundamentally free to choose their actions and mould their lives - or whether they should be deemed as being at heart determined by forces beyond their control, be they fate, biology, politics or class…”
You can read more on this and other subjects here: goo.gl/gT4K7w
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[@lifadysi9418]

"We may be powerless to alter certain events, but we will always be free to choose our attitude towards them." That is if our attitude hasn't already been predetermined.

[@tritonus1415]

good point

[@taniaainat9493]

@Bush 911 - Good point Bush911. Does that also include all the workings inside our brain?

[@KM-04]

As I finished this video, I was just about ready to refute that very point and here I see someone already did! Cheers!

[@TheGuywithnolife]

your attitude is already predetermined but but... hmmm...🤯

[@lifadysi9418]

@@KM-04 👍

[@paulburger9904]

I feel like he misses the point of the debate. The question is not wether one is more beneficial, but rather which one is most objectively true.

[@dbsk06]

Is there such a thing as objective truth

[@paulburger9904]

dbsk06 Well that's a whole debate on it it's own. :D I think an objective truth can be constructed if one agrees on the axioms and logic.

[@victorcates9330]

it initially feels like a dodge. However, you can argue that the position of regarding yourself as freeish is sufficient for most people. It's impossible to dismiss the possibility that free will is illusory, but an ongoing illusion of free will might be functionally equivalent to the real thing. If a clear answer is impossible, then it makes an amount of sense to pivot to what is a useful position. However, even with that you could debate whether pivoting is an exercise of will or simply the universe program continuing to run. The same issue is contained in whether the audience is actually making a decision about altering their perception on the question. Framing things as a choice implies some level of control. Or does it? Any answer is probably better than "who knows? Eat more vegetables and try not to think about it.". (A proper answer is probably initially a philosophical question and then requires some explanation of what free will actually means. I assume the answer is more complicated than if you're a materialist or not.)

[@nealheshmatpour554]

we have compete free will. nothing is predetermined.

[@parker469a]

Hard Determinism is the truth but it doesn't really matter because you'll never have enough information available to you in order to determine what every single human is motivated by in order to predetermine all of their actions. An example of this is if I asked you to name a city. You will more than likely name either the last city that you heard that day, the one you heard the most often in your life, or one that you like the best. You cannot name me a city you have never heard of. So your options are limited by these things and if I knew the answer to all of these questions I should be able to predetermine your answer but even this kinda simple question would take a lot of information gathering to figure out what the answers could be and gathering enough information on 6.2 billion people to figure out how everybody will interact with one another would take too much work for it to ever work. However, if you could gather that much information you could see how everybody will impact one another till the end of time. Maybe a super computer some day will be able to do it. Probably not though.

[@portillamail]

The title of this video should be something like "Believe whatever you want about free will".

[@rmartin6914]

J. P.M. yeah, I'm disappointed

[@frankmoser6251]

Jpm that's really all anyone EVER does about ANYTHING lol. The human mentality can only accept ONE truth at a time ( some see the glass half FULL others see it half EMPTY but NO ONE can see it BOTH ways simultaneously lol) granted one may see the glass as half empty at first may realize they depend on what is in it more than they had planned and begin to see it half empty. The same thing happens in reverse but it takes TIME to change that perception. No one goes from Christian to atheist overnight. People ALWAYS believe what they WANT even when it differs from what they KNOW! The bible is FULL of examples of this ( raising the dead,healing the sick,feeding the hungary,etc,etc and just the ENTIRE perception of religious "miracle" to begin with) we already KNOW these feats are humanly IMPOSSIBLE so to choose to believe they ACTUALLY happened goes AGAINST your human logic yet if your Christian you CHOOSE to believe through the imposed fear of ETERNAL consequences if you DON'T!!! Lol People CHOOSE what they believe and REFUSE the rest.

[@coreycox2345]

Funny, J. P.M.

[@stevekennedy5380]

Your comment is insightful. Thanks.

[@_asmaamah]

Individualism is the discourse of modernity.

[@michaelwu7678]

Man can do what he wills, but he cannot will what he wills. - Schopenhauer

[@anozieanthony2272]

Michael Wu good

[@gladyskris2397]

U must be A loaner

[@parker469a]

In this world, is the destiny of mankind controlled by some transcendental entity or law? Is it like the hand of god, hovering above? At least it is true, that man has no control, even over his own will. - Berserk

[@metalicana5894]

will can do what he mans, but he cannot man what he man - Reuahnepohcs

[@ArtificialHuman69]

parker469a Power lies in where man believes it to lie. Man in the world of Berserk suffers excruciatingly, and began to imagine a god which dictates their fate and casts upon them pain. Their imagination becomes their subject of belief, and thus, they grant power to this image of god through this belief. The god who had its power granted by man now holds enough power to overpower man, albeit being an abstraction of man themselves. And in the world of Berserk, this image of god crept out of man’s own hearts, morphs, and materializes as the being it is now-the heart of the astral world, the world where all that are transcendental and spiritual resides within. And thus, it is within the world of Berserk, that man created god.

[@goaliedude32]

5:05 "We always remain free to choose our attitude towards them" We are not even free in that way. You will adopt an attitude that fits in with your past experiences and current state of mind.

[@Meow-gp5nk]

Your neurological condition/fysiology might already be predetermined as well ...

[@karlhans6678]

@@Meow-gp5nk i was born to fail at life. Born ugly, bullied by father,, bad childhood and teenhood, cant get a gf, all these experiences lead me to do bad decisions as an adult. You see how all the pieces come together? I was predetermined to fail by way of domino effect.

[@aswiniskamath8177]

@@karlhans6678 you could also have been predetermined to win against all the odds. but probably not because these "predeterminately useless" are the thoughts that are going inside your mind. unless you were even predetermined to have a change of mind as well. So change your mind and believe that you can. because even that could have been predetermined. who knows

[@goaliedude32]

@iam_bryan012 Rodriguez it's not possible for free will to exist. Your feeling of freedom is just because you have never say down and observed consciousness. Once you start paying attention it's easy to see that you are not in control in any meaningful way

[@Andres_2004]

yes but no one is forcing you to react on a certain way, to some degree you are free, absolute freedom obviusly doesn't exist because after all we are a bunch of atoms interacting whit the world

[@rea8585]

Even if we believe in the free will, there will always be some things that are not in our control and there will be things we cannot explain. If we believe in determinism, we can and should still do things, because what is supposed to happen will happen, but this doesn't mean we should just sit on our ass and observe the world. Never mind what our belief system is, doing what we can and letting things be if we cannot change them, that is the best recipe.

[@baso4nacl581]

Quick Fix if you do sit on your ass and observe the world well that is predetermined. In fact the thing I'm saying to you is also predetermined. Everything is.

[@zubietap]

Khvote Windrunner It is relevant, really. If we can predict the future it means everything is a result of other things (basically it is like the butterfly theory). Which means everything is determined by what happened before... and so on. Consequently, we are laso determined.

[@zubietap]

Quick Fix That is my philosophy of life. I believe indeterminism but I also want to believe that I am determined to do great things.

[@schinkenkeks7933]

Quick Fix yeah i totally agree The thing is that some people who realised that there is no free will think that they dont have to do anything And yes they can nothing for that 😂

[@emmanuelgoldstein8233]

Parallel Universe the problem is, people who DO try are people who don’t believe in predeterminism. If everyone knows and believes in predeterminism, everyone will stop working and stop being optimistic. Life is just a waiting game, right? Everything will fall from the sky.

[@rabbit216]

Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily Life is but a dream

[@karlhans6678]

Sad

[@j.pipparker]

Eternal sunshine of a spotless mind.

[@TheXxkornmunkyx666]

Do we have free will? “Of course, we have no choice”

[@jackmehoff8392]

It's a never ending cycle.

[@jackmehoff8392]

@temporary Traveler bro. When did they ever say that?

[@manofgod7622]

Jack Mehoff prisoners are bring to the jail to keep us safe out of these people.

[@Matthew-fj6eu]

@@AriffRed01 LOL :"D

[@sevenhoursbehind2048]

@A N It may be argued that their crime-doing behavior was predetermined. It may be argued that it's their fate to live that "bad" life.

[@sylendraws1249]

Free will never exist as long as we are a part of this universe. Every action we make, every thought we think is predetermined by another thought, another action, by ourself, someone else or something else. This is not inherently negative. The universe affects us in many ways and we affect it in many ways, you could almost think of us as the same being. It shapes us into who we are and allows us to shape and change it.

[@toddhowardforreal3912]

Good thoughts but you might get some more traction if you look for some typos.

[@TwoGamingDudes1]

SylenDraws did the universe tell to type this comment

[@toddhowardforreal3912]

Austin duh, that's what he was saying.

[@sylendraws1249]

What typos?

[@toddhowardforreal3912]

SylenDraws my bad, I misread the second sentence. I don't see any actually.

[@333ryansmith]

try to know the next thought you’re going to think, the next idea that’ll pop into your head. most things are subconscious or simply out of our control

[@Larry321ness]

If you could do that, you could see into the future

[@chaosisaladder3434]

You can't control the thoughts that pop into your head. I think that was your point.

[@ani_n01]

Well as soon as you "predict" it actually became your next thought... Trippy paradox

[@loulou2302]

I did that awhile ago on my job interview. I said to myself "fuck it, que sera sera" it didn't end well of course 😅

[@Drizby]

@Ryan Smith after reading your comment, my next thoughts were either to reply or not. But i chose not to..... wait...

[@alinbarba1418]

''Man is greater then anything he can say about himself''- Alan Watts

[@REBELLOGIC]

It’s a mixture of the two because every action and thought comes from another and originally .. they are either determined by us, the universe, circumstances or other people

[@Look73689]

I feel like it's more of a probability thing,when you toss a coin,you only get 3 outcomes,same thing is with life,look at wt all people are doing,they are kinda doing the same shit

[@dinonspace8620]

@@Look73689 I agree with this. However I’m curious about the 3rd outcome of flipping a coin?

[@Look73689]

@@dinonspace8620 i mentioned the 3rd outcome because if i had just said 2 outcomes then people would say oh we can even get a 3rd one too.

[@arete7884]

To a degree things are pretedetermined you don't choose where you're born,your parents,envirement ,talents, areas u might greatly excell in. But a degree of free will is a luxury given to individuals who are awake and not asleep under influence of social conditing,others,envirement . Whether u end up in prosperous or miserable life circumstance to a large degree depends on you and if you cooperate with life not to mention your reaction to what happens to you can impact whether future event may be beneficial to you or not.

[@guru-3943]

Agreed

[@theyeking7023]

This completely misses the point of the debate

[@Meow-gp5nk]

Unless all of that is already predetermined; your outlook, "wokeness" about conditioning, environment, others, etc.

[@creatorchris712]

GODDAFUCKING DAMMIT !!! FINALY SOMEONE WITH SOME SENSE !!! THANK ANYTHING THERE IS IM NOT ALONE !!!!

[@arete7884]

@Sam certain factors within a life lane are predetermined but a choice to switch to a different more favourable one is yours .

[@True38]

The only problem with the aspiration philosophy and why it sometimes goes wrong is because no matter how hard you work to change your life, there will ALWAYS be situations where you NEED ACCEPT from another party, whether its you trying to get a job or trying to get into a relationship with a person. There are some aspects you just can't get through on your own and is thus the biggest obstacle even to the most determined and self-reliable person. But like "The school of life" said, its all about how your attitude is towards these obstacles that will ultimately determine your success in the long run.

[@humbertlong3042]

this is a young american's thinking

[@hukaizoezwar1270]

​@@humbertlong3042 how does old Americans think?

[@GabrielXDrums]

Yeah it’s like if I want a hot E girl to want me but then see she’s taken by a fat fucking neck beard who gets her days on end when you’ve been told you look like you pull TONS of women. That’s one example, honestly though, some fools don’t deserve what they have, I feel many have their days at an end, they simply abuse what they have, I just don’t agree with either philosophy, one implies we choose and the other that there MAY be a power bigger than us which is dog shit.

[@Atari11000]

In my introduction to philosophy book by Korman, desires are said to be one of the problems with free will since we can’t control our desires or even desire defeating decisions to change our desires. Baron Hol’bach really talked about free will in that book while Korman provided counter examples to each argument like desire and determinism. The balance between our desires and what we cannot change wasn’t mentioned in the book. But my course is to teach how philosophy works, not ethics so it made sense. A beautiful balanced message ending :)

[@waterexisting9651]

This topic sounds very useful to our daily life and can reduce our agony from various fields(such as love, career, etc..). It also reminds me the famous quote, "God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other."

[@GrappleBerries]

I follow both determinism and aspiration, while I see technical correctness in determinism I also agree that the emotions and workings of the human brain tend to misunderstand what it really means; it doesn't mean fate or an inability to change for example, just that these outcomes follow from the past and whatever state of wiring your brain currently is in and that the very knowledge of determinism is an event that can affect what you are 'determined' to do.

[@Jefff72]

I can relate to this my overall life by thinking of when I'm in traffic. There are things I can control such as checking Google Maps for traffic jams and planning my route. But there are things I can't control. Like when every possible route has something going on, which I have had on many occasions. Then when I'm sitting in traffic, I stay calm by reminding myself that I can't control it. Yelling at the cars in front will not make it move. Now this goes out the window when I'm running late and I'm on a road that never has traffic but except now.

[@richardkelch2469]

I knew so much premonition in my life....thousands of things, as a theme of my mostly set life and surroundings I will know. I tried, in my mind, to change the outcomes and I have yet to change the premonition results. If I did alter anything; I still was not powerful enough to alter the stronger patterns of power over me.

[@mercedesreynoso4318]

Richard Kelch me too. I have experienced life as you have, something's are completely unalterabe and already set and won't or can't be changed yet religious people say that we have a choice and can affect outcomes.

[@joeysung311]

It's not really a contribution to the age-long debate, but rather a reframing of the question- placing it into context of the emotional implications the argument, why or why not one may be motivated to believe in free will/determinism. I agree with the notion that our own emotional disposition plays a large role in whether we favor the idea of free will or determinism over the other. It certainly prompted me to introspect on my own deterministic outlook, and its possible relationship with my own emotional experiences of failure. I believe that nobody is compelled to believe in either determinism or free will based on purely rational, or intellectual grounds. However, SoL's approach may be seen as to detract from the free will debate itself by disregarding the question at hand, or reducing it to an irrelevant matter of preference.

[@ruiningwang1644]

You say it detracts from the free will debate? I say it's an excellent thing! It's one of those useless and sterile debates along with "does God exist?" or "are there other universes?" Instead of seeking the truth in a case where the truth is clearly not accessible to us, we can try to answer the question for which we can find an answer: " what effect do my beliefs have on my life?" Once we answered that and we still have time to waste, sure let's debate what was before the big bang.

[@joeysung311]

@Rui Ning Wang I agree, in this case I found it very relevant and meaningful.

[@chaosisaladder3434]

Do not think about pizza. I bet you just thought about pizza didn't you. No free will.

[@ruiningwang1644]

Nyctimene I think even hard determinists agree that rational thinking is not the only factor coming into play into determining a human action or decision. Instead it's a convolution between your beliefs, desire, and temperament. It might be your utopic ideal to only rely on rational thinking, but the reality of humanity is very different. Some people believe the earth is flat and that vaccines give autism to children..

[@ruiningwang1644]

Well you said it yourself, we all think we are being rational, but others might very rightly disagree with us. I think you underestimate how good we are at lying to ourselves. I'm not saying that people consciously choose to believe something contrary to the extent of their rational capabilities, but instead our beliefs are subconsciously shaped by much much more than what we are ready to acknowledge, or even able to acknowledge, starting by our own desires and temperament. And the other point is that our human perception is very limited, even when we try to look into ourselves! So when we try to build our beliefs, we often only have a very limited set of data. So of course if you build your belief rationally with this meager set of building blocks, it's going to be very shaky and uncertain and with holes. But we are often overconfident in the validity and "sea-worthiness" of our beliefs. Having only our own mind, we don't have so many other perspectives to compare with. There is kind of a Dunning-Kruger effect at play here! I think we all often overestimate our rational capabilities. tldr; we think we are being rational, but we often don't realize how little we know and how shaky our beliefs are.

[@MarioKhoury]

this notification determined my action

[@anabanana9582]

you were presented a situation and chose what to do about it

[@ironmantis25]

PROdigeYw Subconsciously decided. Your conscious mind can have the ability to override your subconscious impulses, but for me in this case, nope.

[@bradthomas7933]

Notification determined you starting the video, but it was your choice to finish it.

[@theshermantanker7043]

@@ironmantis25 You do realise with over 50 muscles to move at a time in the span of a second that unconscious brain activity has to work extremely fast to do whatever you chose?

[@TheGuywithnolife]

@@anabanana9582 nope choosing is predetermined as well

[@neneklampir6664]

I have my own Philosophy for this from my own diary which states something like this. "Human are not free and Impossible to be free. As long as our brain are limited by the skull, space and time, we are unable to be free. All we can do is to pursue a higher consciousness to gain a higher freedom. All we can do is to widening the jail, instead of get out of it"

[@LucasRibeiro-po4pb]

The son of Liberty In your definition, absolute freedom would be boring as fuck, not considering the logical problems that arise when you enter the real of omnibeings

[@rhizomania7607]

The son of Liberty The same with mine. Our mind should undergo transcendence to truly understand freedom. Maybe to the point of understanding the mind of god.

[@SCT84]

Eating shroom's must be like an all out jail-break!

[@JOE324WILD]

It really depends on how much you can maximise your consciousness to.

[@schinkenkeks7933]

The son of Liberty thats very deep And i agree but i think there is just a limit and we cant wide it

[@tckteamcoolkats2924]

What if we’re predetermined to have free will

[@reda29100]

'Predetermined' usually refers to ' events' causes are events themsleves are predetermined '. It's like: football rules, field's lengths and matches' times and teams are predetermined this moment for the next 4 years. Well, DUH! But are you determined to fail? That is the question.

[@abdullahrazack]

@@reda29100 no but what if it's already planned to make us believe that we have free will

[@reda29100]

@@abdullahrazack I'm sorry. You sound like a troll, that's why my response sounds so sarcastic. So you doubting and thinking now that you have no free will is part of the programming too? How about the other way around? What if we're programmed by an evil simulator that wants us to believe that we *don't* have free will?! Wouldn't that make it easier for him to perpetuate this cycle with him/it interfering? I do sound so toxic, and I apologize in advance.

[@abdullahrazack]

@@reda29100 But what if in the end, whether we believe in free will or not is what he wants.

[@abdullahrazack]

@@reda29100 Why would he not want us to believe in free will? Because free will exists? That would be too stupid. Anyways in the end, it questions our reality. Who are we? What is our destiny? What are we supposed to do?

[@PursuitofWonder]

It appears that we have free will to accept determinism. Ironic.

[@nopenotme3373]

No we don't. You can't decide to be convinced or not about an argument. If determinism makes sense to you; you will believe it is true. If it doesn't make sense to you; you won't believe it is true. Where is the freedom in what I described?

[@PursuitofWonder]

Throughout your entire statement. Your argument is that we can consider one verse the other and make a choice. That is free will.

[@naturallaw1733]

understand this and then you can see why "free will" is impossible ---> "our "free will" is based on past environmental and genetic interactions" "free will" is something that we feel/experience it as because we never think about all the events that go on that we can't perceive.

[@jsshemeth]

Max Brinker , you are misusing a verse to prove your point. Any man has the choice to do anything he wishes. A man can still do good, even if he isn’t saved; and vice versa, those who are saved can still do wrong. We are given that choice, otherwise we’d be mindless drones unable to even have this conversation. And that verse does not mean what you’re saying. Yes, only God can approach God of his own accord; but that divide was destroyed when Jesus died for us. I’m not sure where you got this point of view, and I’m not sure I totally understand what your even saying with this comment, but I hope I can shed some sort of clarity.

[@Abdega]

There are a lot of people who are butthurt in this thread over OP's joke. I am sorry the ones who are were predetermined to have a stick up their ass

[@gyges5495]

Everything is cause and effect therefore we have no free choices

[@process6996]

Determinism doesn't imply the denial of personal responsibility. This video isn't about helping understand reality or see the truth, it's about how to delude yourself in order to get the mindset the SoL wants you to. This is encourages belief according convenience which is something utterly pathological in the long term.

[@nil981]

Everything is predetermined. EVERYTHING.

[@j.pipparker]

What have you experienced that you would say aligned strangely or perfectly?

[@aryaanzafaar9708]

Then why is it predetermined differently for different people? Cause some (can) believe in free will and some don't. Determinism doesn't seem that much (samely) deterministic (for everyone in all cases).

[@williamshakespeare8748]

*Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.* ...At least according to the character Macbeth. Who knows what I truly believed?

[@KitchenSinkSoup]

What inspired you to write that?

[@bolivar1789]

William, I can't tell you how much I love you :- )

[@macronencer]

I once wrote this in a poem: I believe in paradox: I believe free will Rides valiant on the mighty steed Of space-time's rolling mill. In the absence of belief in the supernatural, a knowledge of physics inevitably leads to the acceptance of 'hard' determinism. However, I always strive to remember these two things: (1) Even if free will is an illusion, it's one that seems to work much of the time, so relax. (2) If Many Worlds Interpretation (of quantum mechanics) is true, then it's possible to have both free will AND determinism: every decision you make plays out in all possible outcomes, but you only get to experience one of them, so in a sense you've 'made a choice' without violating the laws of physics. I admit this is a very unscientific hypothesis, but it's one I like to hold because it gives me some comfort :)

[@reda29100]

But what if, still, everyone's choise combined (totality of conscious beingd combined) *is* what determine which universe we go to? Like, we are 3 beings and tons of atoms. Atoms' actions and influence in which universe we tend to is out of our hands, but our decisions, we the 3, of doing hundereds of different things (moving hands or thinking about doughnuts) will lead the branching (within the universe atoms lead to from possible worlds) to specific universe? More like the dog and the leash but within the choices we ourselves can choose. More like the free will is meant in the choices we may have, not those out of hands.

[@xx_xxxxx_xx4800]

i know it's been 3 years, but i just wanna say: nice poem, pal

[@macronencer]

@@xx_xxxxx_xx4800 Thanks!

[@sam-by6sq]

@@macronencer i think its a disgrace to humanity. shame on you sir, shame on you. remove this horrid poem

[@villager_2713]

@@macronencer By looking at these facts as an objectivist-compatibilist, I definitely agree with you.🙂👌 Besides, there's also sufficient evidence in the scientific community to support the existence of free will (which came in the product of evolution, where living beings that make conscious choices tend to surivive more✅ than those that dont) slate.com/technology/2013/09/free-will-debate-what-does-free-will-mean-and-how-did-it-evolve.html Hence, I agree with you and its the reasonable and sensible statement to have.👍

[@megamangos7408]

Out of all these videos, this one Desperately needs a part two. Using an outside view of this question and of Defeatism Vs. Aspiration need to be expanded on even deeper, as I feel the implication that you can and should swap between these two equally useful viewpoints as needed is extremely useful in Mental Therapy and life in general. The concept of being able to let go of the overall question of being right or wrong, and actually using philosophical concepts to fit the situation should be taught everywhere. That's main one goal of philosophy, not to be right and prove others wrong, but to be able to make the best possible choices in life based on your readily available evidence. Because sometimes you'll be happier going your own way like a dog exploring the woods, or you'll be happy being pulled towards something you desire, like a dog to the food bowl. Lengthy Post Warning: I think a good place to start and help grasp the deeper concepts here would be to continue the dog and leash analogy and go further into the mental concept of the leash itself. To create a base point, let's say you're a comatose vegetable with no brain activity. Obviously, you have no control or mind to do so, so the analogy would be that your leash length is zero and tied directly to the cart. From that starting zero, what determines the length of the leash? One such measure could be wealth, thereby allowing you to buy anything and be anywhere. Or would it be simply willpower? (where does that willpower originate? Fame? Social Power? Just an over-inflated ego?) But, this leash also comes with the problems of maintaining that length/wealth/willpower, which will make you beholden to other individuals (Chairmen & Investors, Customers, Family, etc) who deal with your income, life, and outcome of your actions. So is this leash really as long as it appears or do more social contracts shorten it? Further, if you are held responsible by more people, the analogy could go on to say you have not just one, but many different leashes, each pulling on you at different tensions. So, do we have any actual control of the length of the leash AND the number of leashes around our necks? Sure, you can sever ties with people, gain some extra length by working on financial goals. But some leashes appear unbreakable or stagnant, like trying to run faster than a tiger or trying in vain to make a wealthy/upper class individual favor you over their own kin. I could go on, but in Summation: What determines the length of the lease? How many leashes are there? And, is it possible to alter any of these leashes at all? Sometimes, we all need a little direction/defeatism and a little freedom/aspiration, and the amounts could change even daily.

[@panosm.8041]

I don't necessarily mind the fact that all your videos are pretty much theoretical all the way but I think that providing us with examples when needed is going to help us understand what you are talking about considerably . Thank you!

[@Akaitoism]

Every decision we make, every action we take, everything that happens anywhere anytime ever is influenced by the history of the universe up to that point. So you always have the freedom to make your choices, but everything is predetermined.

[@mediacenterman8583]

But your choice is predetermined, you just don't realise it

[@rhythmkhandelwal2940]

I believe it's a combination of both, some moments are absolute points and are pre determined while some gives us choices

[@pacman207]

Both are results of the butterfly effect & the butterfly effect is build off of freewill

[@thekosmickat]

@@pacman207 butterfly effect is built off of determinism because determinism dictates that everything happening now is based off of something that came before, like a chain reaction that was predetermined at the beginning of it all. Like the first domino falling, or the butterfly effect.

[@atypical_moto]

"For fate the willing leads, the unwilling drags along" -Cleanthes

[@rodneydelapena3752]

Life is literally an AAA game or a game with a story. You can do whatever you want to do in that game but you still have to follow the story and its objectives to move on.

[@gabrielbizzlebop4702]

You have will. But it certainly isnt free.

[@LA-jr6pt]

Love

[@Comewithmeifuwant2live]

Do you mean causality?

[@DRakeTRofKBam]

As some people suggest, it is true that we can't determine our quirks, who our parents will be, in what conditions we will grow up etc.. Allthough we have the freedom to choose between some littler details in life, part of the decisions are happening sub-conciously, while others (larger decisions) are determined by our wants and needs, which we got influenced on while we were growing up.

[@SK-lj1ql]

How we choose to see what is in play during the challenging circumstances in life- whether it's free will or determinism is dependent on which view is more suitable to keep us moving forward without being stuck. Both are in fact just ideas. The objective Truth can only be known only after thorough persistence, firstly on the worldly level that will prepare us to undertake far more deeper analyses that may or may not lead to spiritual transcendence

[@etona6147]

Whether there is free will or not it is up to you, no one has the answer to the absolute truth but you because you are the only one who can choose what your truth is. Furthermore, at life there are things that are out of your control and there are also things that is are only under your control, it is easy to confuse the two but instead of seeing them as black and white, just as previously discussed in earlier SOL videos, you must find ambivalence to differentiate the two and take the proper course of action for the situation.

[@JasonWilliams89]

You don't choose though because free will doesn't exist.

[@iceydaywalker9198]

Lol fucking horrid comment

[@johnsmith2956]

The video is based on the false assumption, that the believe in determinism leads to inaction/defeatism. Even though the outcome of our actions might be predetermined, this doesn't mean that not taking action will lead to the same result, as this video falsely implies.

[@DigiMyst]

I thought that was kind of strange too. Simply knowing the limitations of free will isn't enough to make someone so defeated unless they want to be. If that were the case, a lot of religious people I know would be pretty nihilistic right now.

[@LucasRibeiro-po4pb]

Thing is: they made studies in which they either told the subjects that they had free will or not. Consistently, those that believed they had free will acted more accordingly to their better judgement than those that didn't. It's an old pragmatist point of view that free will is a useful belief, and I agree

[@thotung34]

It's exactly like people who say you don't believe in God and so don't have any purpose in life, that's just not how it works.

[@JuffruyBuruthuun]

I thought the whole point was that you should find a balance between the believe in determinism and free will to prevent defeatism

[@johnsmith2956]

The studies may reflect a large proportion of people who believe they have no free will and in turn also often believe their actions and thoughts have no impact on the world or their life outcome (which is obviously false). You cannot get trapped in that false assumption, if you do believe in free will. (Which is probably the point the video is trying to make). The vid is still oversimplified and confusing, imo.

[@hgracern]

I find it wonderfully liberating to observe 'my' actions, body and thoughts. Even attitude to events is ultimately not mine. Ultimately, as Consciousness, not projection, we are freeeee.

[@Cantread807]

The fact that we ask this question with those two possibilities in mind just means that they are both occuring and true.

[@dazzykin]

I simply love how the animation is always so well thought out on your videos

[@catelynseely1866]

My ADHD literally can’t watch this and hear what it’s saying

[@nomansdream6913]

Simplified : Everything is meaningless.

[@williamshakespeare8748]

Refuted: Does you statement make sense? If it does then everything is not meaningless :P

[@jamesparthos6811]

thats the meaning you derive from it. you say everythings meaningless, but if someone asked you what it meant, you would say "nothing" which is and of itself a meaning technically. nihilism alot of times is an expression of silent depression, a form obscure and behind the scenes it has escaped the grasp of your conscious awareness, and has instilled itself as a "fact of life" within your philosophy. ive felt the same way, and still do at times, but i know that what im saying is more or less a fact. how could it not be?

[@jamesparthos6811]

so when you die, does everyone else stop existing? ...solipsist logic...

[@DigiMyst]

Can you support your claim with evidence?

[@Great-Beard-of-Zeus]

Sounds like defeatism

[@LloydTimpac]

we have free will

[@Greatkingrat88]

This video isn't a response to the question about whether we actually do have free will or not- it's a response to the question: Is it in our interest to hold the belief that we have free will or not? That is an interesting question, but to me it's a bait and switch.

[@Daewonnni]

Yes. It’s a promotion for stoicism. I was surprised there wasn’t a book for sale at the end of video.

[@Volleyball_Chess_and_Geoguessr]

I think the healthy middle is to exercise free will to shape your life as much as possible, and do as much prevention of bad things as you can even in small ways. Small things can set in motion larger things later. BUT when bad things do happen, as the Christians say "put it in God's hands". Accept, learn, and deal with what is.

[@princekalender2154]

Having a destiny makes a lot of sense and free us from a lot of anxiety.

[@p0otty]

The main argument for predeterminism is physical. Politics and social environments may undirectly and partly determine our actions, but they are physically determined just as well. It's not just that it could hardly be another way: everything simply cannot be, and never could have been any different. This theory seems to be widely accepted now, and it's also been supported by the latest research in neuroscience. Nevertheless, the conclusion of the video remains a nicely balanced way of dealing with the idea of a completely determined world as well as with the (so damn convincing) illusion of free will that keeps us going.

[@deyw4786]

Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody's gonna die

[@schinkenkeks7933]

Deyw that has nothing to do with free will you know? I dont even think that the rick and morty universe has this question in it but it would be interresting

[@jayjay-se3jf]

come watch tv?

[@shadowscrew6254]

Nice reference

[@secularmonk5176]

+Schinkenkeks Affirmation of Infinite universes is the ultimate destroyer of free will. Every choice is made. Every outcome is experienced. Some are just far more *likely* than others. The likeliest outcomes are the universes where we act like we have free will.

[@Metallic_Shades]

I believe it does. Especially some of the quotes that relate to the analogy of us drifting like a piece of dust in the cosmos, or to put a saddle on your universe. Regarding the determinism representing ricks nihilistic outlook as well as doing what he can to enjoy that which he chooses what matters to him regarding in which he struggles to admit what he really cares about behind the complicated characteristics of rick himself. Its really interesting the concepts of some philosophy and theoretical science that is stirred up within the show.

[@LeandroVelez7]

We aren’t entirely free. However, accepting the degree of un-freedom in our lives can ameliorate much of the stress in our lives as it relinquishes us from the anxiety over the things we have no power over. Allowing greater freedom in how we relate to those things we don’t have power, rather than the focusing on anxiety about not having power over them. Thus in many circumstances we could create more freedom but it is not the freedom that is necessarily satisfying to our egos.

[@sym2988]

Yes, it's interesting to think about how our attitude towards the events in our lives affect us, but that does not answer the question of how our attitude *came to **_be_** in the first place* - through free will or a pre determined fate- and that was the question and this was a kellyanne conway answer. This is one of the school of life videos I am disappointed by. I was hoping it would explore the theory that our the exact & unique life experiences and situation give rise to the neuronal network that *make* us more aspirational or defeatist, or whether we develop that attitude completely on our own arbitrarily.

[@maxziebell4013]

That question is irrelevant as long as one doesn't define what one understands under "Free Will". If you mean it to be a complete detached pure mind that can feather decisions based on a divine insight then there will never be an end to the discussion. On the other hand once one accepts our brain to be a dependente entity one must value the myriads of outcomes it can produce when it starts grinding over a problem. Sure, if one only looks at pure reaction we are less competent but give us some time and open circumstances to reflect and the decision tree with possible outcomes becomes vast.

[@LucasRibeiro-po4pb]

School of life follows a philosophy of extreme pragmatism. They don't care about finding truth or deep considerations. As long as you understand that, not only you won't be disappointed, you will predict what they will talk about

[@process6996]

Free will and predetermined fate are not mutually exclusive. In the future you'll do what you'll do regardless of if freely or not.

[@maxziebell4013]

Yes, self awareness and iterative thinking broaden the decision space beyond pure reaction. If not rushed and over time a vast tree of influencing factors and capabilities interact (and interlock) with each other. Even if this happens deterministically the logic inside this interaction network is so vast that it needs it's own name. This "competence" as Daniel Dennett calls it is virtually independent of an underlying deterministic or indeterministic universe. Freedom therefor depends on your competence (giving you freedom of choice) and unavoidable circumstance (constrains on your choice). To value one over the other and align your life accordingly is the task portrait in this video.

[@diegom6085]

That's a good point. Is the way someone feels about something, their attitude is pre-determined. How do you change that, since your attitude is not really that easy of a fix with a whole lifetime of subconcious infiltration and influence from everyone around you. We are to some extent a collection of reactions that we learned in the past.

[@50H48]

Whether someone will take the stoic approach will be causally determined by their past circumstances. As the saying goes: we may do what we will, but we can not will what we will.

[@sesameseed746]

"In this world, is the destiny of mankind controlled by some transcendental entity or law? Is it like the hand of God hovering above? At least it is true that man has no control, even over his own will"

[@theconsoleinthecloset]

It is the erroneous view that we exist separately from anything that happens that leads to confusion in this regard. We are collectively the will of all that is. Predetermism and free will are one in the same. Through absolute acceptance and ultimately surrender to the way we achieve a conscious understanding of this.

[@charlesbrightman4237]

Our life is predetermined: 1. We are ALL going to die one day from something. 2. We are ALL going to forget everything we ever knew and experienced. 3. We are ALL going to be forgotten one day in future eternity as if we never ever existed at all in the first place. (OSICA).

[@Hgulix62]

Is not bcs we gonna die, forget and be forgotten that we ain't free

[@anakinjames92]

That is not free will. You'd be talking about Maximal Autonomy.

[@dewanfariharamisa5664]

a brief of comments- 1. appreciates the vid 2. constructive or non constructive criticism 3. quotes 4. opinion with or no evidence

[@guyfox5855]

It doesn't matter if our will is free or not. It is more inportant to make conscious choices.

[@MrQuadcity]

Free will is an illusion and here is the argumentation: From the lense of neuroscience: Marcus Du Sautoy (Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and the Simonyi Professorship for the Public Understanding of Science) participates in an experiment conducted by John-Dylan Haynes (Professor at the Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin) that attempts to find the neurological basis for decision making. Short summary: The experiment explores the relationship between free will, decision-making, and brain activity. Marcus Du Sautoy participates in an experiment in Berlin where they have to randomly decide to press either a left or right button. Brain scans and computer records track when the decision is made in the brain and when the button is physically pressed. The results reveal that up to six seconds before Marcus Du Sautoy consciously makes a decision, their brain has already made that choice. Specific patterns of brain activity can even predict which button will be pressed. This finding challenges the notion of free will, suggesting that unconscious brain activity significantly shapes our decisions before we become consciously aware of them. The experiment also delves into the nature of consciousness. It argues against dualism-the idea that the mind and brain are separate entities. Instead, it posits that consciousness is an aspect of brain activity. The unconscious brain activity is in harmony with a person's beliefs and desires, so it's not forcing you to do something against your will. Marcus Du Sautoy finds the results shocking, especially the idea that someone else can predict their decision six seconds before they are consciously aware of making it. The experiment raises profound questions about the nature of free will, consciousness, and the deterministic mechanisms that may govern our decisions. From the lense of pysics: In order to question the belief in free will, one can conduct experiments and contemplations. Take an action you are convinced you performed and reverse-engineer it until you realize you had no control over it. This leads to the conclusion that all actions in life are the same, and the notion of claiming ownership falls away, so free will is non-existent. By 'reverse-engineering an action,' I mean tracing back the steps that led you to make a specific decision. Upon close examination, you'll find that your choice was influenced by a series of past events and conditions over which you had no control, and that your choice didn't originate from a single point. One could argue that everything originates from the Big Bang, making us essentially biological robots. This realization may prompt you to reconsider how much 'free will' you actually possess, as your actions are shaped by factors beyond your control, both in the past and likely in the future as well. So you can summarize everything is a happening according to cosmic laws.

[@juliusg.7074]

Our personality is the continuity of every decision we ever made. So free choice is crucial to identify as the person we are. If you believe in determinism, you believe that you never made any decisions in your life. There would be no difference, as everything is just the product of causality. I know you can't prove one thing or the other, but i really have to believe in free will, otherwise it would drive me into depressions.

[@gladyskris2397]

That's zest beautiful. Dead riot there. Free choice is not equal to free will _-_Eight 8_____-/

[@ameliam.winter6101]

I believe that one should have a balanced understanding and acceptance of both free will and predetermination. Do all in your power to make things happen for yourself while still accepting things won't every single time, go as you wish or expect.

[@nickh.44]

Exactly my idea as well!

[@Panter0389]

i think free will vs determinisn can be linked to what each of us think about himself. If I am the sum of my past experience, every future actions will be the result of a very complex equation. If otherwise i'm more than that, i'm "responsible" for my actions. People should take the best from both, swaying in storms without fighting like a blade of grass and be proud and firm like a big tree is sunny days

[@rva]

Both Mr man

[@antoinefdu]

Like other people have already pointed out, *The School of Life* seem to believe that determinism is just a matter of how much power we have in determining our fate. It's not. It's much deeper than that. Think of it like driving a car. The issue is not whether the road forces us to follow a certain path, or whether the wheel is too stiff or the engine too weak. The issue is that we are not the one driving the car. We _feel_ like we are driving it, but are on the back seat. It's neither a good nor a bad thing, and there is nothing we should do about it, it's just an interesting fact to keep at the back of our minds. We are and always will be the product of our influences, and nothing else.

[@christunke]

I'm a fan of animation and illustration in your videos! This particular one is just perfect. LOVE it!

[@aaii5378]

When we are tied to a cart and a leash we are not free to choose our own destiny and free will. But when the lead comes off us and we are not tied to a cart we are free to choose our destiny and that’s having free will. Some people see things ,events before they happen and what if that can change into free will? We don’t have to go into that spiritual or life path if we have free will. Those who don’t have free will are bound and they are tied to a leash for life and forever.Just remember that we are linked with choices and we are constantly living in different shifting realities where things that are yet to come may or may not happen defined by the choices we make in life. How do we know we have free will? Only god can determine that. Free to choose you have free will. Bound you don’t have free will. The devil will bound you but god gives you free choice or free will. I pray god gives me free will.

[@explorelife-dr.gajendrarat2508]

May be we can't decide our attitude as many are saying that might be predetermined but I think if we learn to think and imagine the probabilities that can happen by our actions then we can somehow create our future. It's just like chess game where you imagine future probabilities and move accordingly (consciously) and not randomly just to timepass.

[@uncharted1990]

Experiencing underachievement and self-deceit does not mean that we should have faith in the notion of Free Will. In fact, it is a valid reason to have faith in the notion of determinism. Thus, trying to, at least to some extent, exercise our will against what is determined. Doing so, we are able to achieve and be true to ourselves.

[@JahGuarrr]

Although I’d like to believe in Fate sometimes, I think humans have choice and do form their own path. Now free will, I don’t think everyone possess. Including myself, for example, my will tells me to get my ass up and get to the gym, how ever I choose not too due to my weak mind and lack of actual free will. Since my will Is enslaved to other things like unhealthy living, I wouldn’t consider it free. Though it is always free to choose, only a small amount of people imo, actually have a strong enough will to choose exactly what they know will bring them they’re desired result no matter how hard or painful it is.

[@memenchance1747]

Choice ≠ Free Will

[@JahGuarrr]

@@memenchance1747 not necessarily, a lot of people only have choices to choose between that they don’t want. Like all the choices. Someone in jail for instance. Sure we have choices still, you always really got some sort of choice, that doesn’t equate to free will.

[@kingkanji8996]

If everything is divided by good and bad,then our Will's and our future were predestined from the very start, we've never decided anything. Good and bad decided for us.

[@TheMightybraa]

If brains are complex machines made up of systems that respond mechanically to stimuli, then isn't everything we ever do in life technically pre-determined and calculatable? By this logic, wouldn't everything that came before us, since the big bang, and everything that is to come, all be pre-determined?

[@Jelkartin]

Only if we assume that it is possible to know every input and that there is no coincidence at all. But the world (quantum physics) teaches us that coincidience is a crucial part of the universe. Even if everything was pre-determined and we knew all inputs/ starting values and laws, it still would be impossible to calculate, because you calculator would need at least the same complexity and energy as the universe itself.

[@ianyboo]

Adding randomness doesn't actually help matters. When people claim to have free will I don't think they typically mean "I picked coke instead of Pepsi based on random fluctuations at the quantum level that I have no control over"

[@camcam_burger]

Agreed. Randomness doesn't create free will. But ultimately, it doesn't matter if free will exists or not, because we never know what will happen in the future.

[@0cards0]

Chriss Pagani i dont see any evidence that the randomness of quantum mechanics is effecting our world, therefore we should be able to calculate everything, & our decisions to some extent.

[@0cards0]

Jeffery Theador Cornelius Crawford i dont think that its correct that our decisions are just the product of brain chemicals, it is to some extent, but i think the bigger cause to our decisions is prior knowledge

[@MercyMburuNyakio]

This is the best comment section on earth.

[@freddymeisner]

Pseudo free will inside a deterministic structure

[@MrPizzaslice]

As much as humans seem to hate admitting it we are still animals and a lot of what we do is still driven by instinct.

[@dancingfishfilms]

Not sure about this one Alain... interesting idea nonetheless! But the thought that whether we *do* have free will or not surely is worth considering? Not just whether it is more beneficial to believe so. Seems like a dangerous idea that the truth of how the world actually is should be disregarded, in favour of just believing whatever makes our lives better. Thought experiment: if I am happier and lead a more fulfilling life if I believe that the earth is flat, should I avoid pursuing the truth and believe it?

[@Kevin-qh1ve]

That makes an interesting philosophical question. In my opinion, that depends, if your happiness means negatively impacting other people through your beliefs, then that's not a good thing. But if your ignorance makes you a better person for yourself *and* for others, why is there a need for truth? "When ignorance is bliss, it's folly to be wise."

[@Hgulix62]

@@Kevin-qh1ve - Can really ignorance makes a better person ?

[@MissKellyBean]

Some of this reminds me of discussions I had during recovery (which is not necessarily to say, "the tenants of AA taught me this," but more, "while in an AA meeting I had this discussion with others.) It's atleast worthy of examination, especially (in my opinion) when discussing the concept of "am I in control of my own happiness (fulfilledness, contentedness, etc)?"

[@wh33lers]

Are we really free to choose how we react to things happening we cannot control?

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

You are designed to react with a choice... If only there was a HUD.

[@RonnyAndersson-q9b]

It's predetermined but we have a free will to say either yes or no to any given situation.

[@Szpulenso]

I am extremely confused about broader implications of fully embracing deterministic ideas. I wonder, is there any motivation for improvement in a deterministic philosophical stance? Since I cannot choose to stick to my diet, I can really just witness if my illusory 'self' is strong enough to resist a temptation prompted by unconscious systems (perhaps activity of: hypothalamus, hormones produced to a cue of a juicy cheesburger, memory traces, blood sugar levels etc.) When "I" successfully go through with my diet, "I" cannot take credit for that as every time "I" have struggled with many different options such as: - eating a donut or nor eating it, - bravely resisting tempations in spite of a hunger, - switching to a completely different diet, - denying futility of sticking to a diet, - believing that a given diet will bring positive changes to my life, ... all these and many more, potential options, actions, and mental states, are nothing but information entering my field of consciousness. "My" decision to continue with a diet in spite of difficulties is also an inevitable consequence of previous mental states that "I" do not control. Therefore, virtues of temperance, willpower, etc. are nothing more but labels that we stick onto individuals fortunate enough to have neuroarchitecture and life experience that yield their exemplary actions. With this knowledge, how then can you sustain your motivation, knowing that nothing you ever did (or will do), was a result of your independent choice? Hey, since my failure of an exam was inevitable, as will be my decision to repeat it, or dropping from university, or joining military ,or committing suicide, etc. etc...

[@phantomcaleb]

I think this video conflates free will with optimism. You can believe that you are in control of your actions and at the same time believe none of these actions will lead to a positive change in your life. I think we see this in depressed people, who in my experience (my own and that of people close to me), oscillate between feeling, "Come on, get over yourself already," and, "I will always feel this way no matter how hard I try." I see belief in free will in both cases, but also self-hatred and defeatism because of it.

[@11kakuzu]

Nihilism is the answer. Absolute Nothiing is nonsense because its unquantafiable, undefineable, unmeasureable etc. . Determinism = Infinity cause theres always more reasons, logic, scientific study. So infinity is nonsense because its unquantafiable , undefineable , unmeasureable etc. . Reality is one or the other infinite or nothing . Ie. Existence is entirely subjective anythings possible.

[@Buglin_Burger7878]

I personally believe everything is determined before hand, if bad things happen when you try but nothing bad happens when you don't it is unintentional reinforcement of behaviors. If good things happen when you try you'll try more often and encourage people to try. As someone who has drowned several times I have an aversion to water, but I can choose to go into the water... but why would I go into it? If I can do something just as fun or relaxing why subject myself to unneeded pain? Simple, those around me. If I'm with friends or family it will alter things and ease the pain, but also help if it is something good, such as I preform better in anything if my friends participate with me, even if they aren't good at it. I have a bit of control when I realize things are set in stone, I can go left or right as I choose now just like someone who believes in limitless choices. If there is something hard, I can get someone close to help me. I know that I have no reason to go into water without someone close to me there... so I can plan ahead and change my plans on what to do on the pool day, by bringing someone or if that doesn't work I can enjoy myself in one of the many other ways. I don't gain anything typing this but I feel like it may help someone so I am, it feels right based on my previous experiences so I'm doing it. I'm using my past experiences to determine my actions of my own free will... It is determined freewill. I'm pretty sure virtually everyone does this, even if they don't admit to it people still often choose what they like and dislike based on what happened.

[@shobhitjain1978]

Such thought-provoking videos! I love this channel. It helps me to understand reality and myself in a much better way! Thank you!😄🙌🙏

[@empathylessons2267]

The core of the debate is whether everything has an explanation, or if there is a fundamental lack of explanation. While, in my opinion, determinism is true, in other words, everything has an explanation, our frontal lobe, which itself is predetermined, is the determinant of most of our life's outcomes. Rather than naively believing in the notion of free will, I think it's better to acknowledge our predetermined reality which includes our frontal lobe, which we experience as "will". A change in "will" is merely the frontal lobe causing a predetermined change within itself. With this perspective, "willpower" isn't pointless, as it definitely yields results, but the "willpower" itself was predetermined. So all we can do is attempt to exercise "willpower" and hope we are a frontal lobe with the genes and experiences that will result in behavior that will accomplish our goals.

[@Hgulix62]

Why cannot something be explained and still have free will ? For example, there can physical properties that are natively undetermined and highly chaotic - minor causes can have huge effect -, in that case, you can explain that physical properties by studying them, but you cannot predict their future state due to their natural property of undetermination. Something like the Heisenberg's uncertainty principle when you can know all the brain - consciousness - and it's features but cannot predict it's future state precisely.

[@MrTokinedz]

It doesn't matter if free will or determinism is real because we still have to live our lives.

[@Hgulix62]

The unexamined life is not worth living

[@benhof2140]

This seems like a form of compatibilism that leans towards libertarianism. It assumes we can use reasoning to become consciously aware of the circumstances that determine our thoughts, which would allow us to adjust to them in a way that maximizes "freedom", a word likely used to refer to partial free will. At the same time the leash will always be there, we will always be powerless to certain external influences. So reasoning has it's limits, it could never grant us perfect free will. While I don't fully agree, this is still a very insightful take on the subject.

[@maxziebell4013]

I think Daniel Dennett makes a good argument in this matter. He objects against Free Will and Determinism being opposing forces. He makes the argument that it's irrelevant as the true measure of degrees of freedom we have in making a decision lie in our reaction to a given set of slightly different circumstances around the decision at hand. The bigger we personally can make this space he calls "competence" the more "free" we are (kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5S2mImdp6hgbLs).

[@joeysung311]

Sorry for not watching the video, but isn't that just another way of saying 'free will' as it is commonly thought of does not exist?

[@maxziebell4013]

Yes, precisely. I am not contradicting that notion I was trying to give it further nourishment …

[@Mr_Škarin12]

I think that predestination is greater than free will but doesn't mean that we don't have a choice to chose our own reaction towards out of control situation!

[@imaniwig3313]

I like the sound effects

[@Hgulix62]

Or do you ? Hello vsauce, michel here

[@oro-oluwatoromo-thewordoft7339]

I am testifying to the goodness of the Lord! earlier today I was feeling so sick! I could not breathe, I had headaches, sore throat, my eyes were watery so I could not see much but God healed me completely on this very same day! I am serving a living God indeed! If you have not already given your life to Christ do so now by saying, Lord God, I come to repent from my sins (be sincere) please take me Lord I give my life to you! Thank God!!!! May the Lord God be with us all in the mighty name of Jesus Amen! and may God keep us all to live for over 100 years with long life, good health, and prosperity to glorify His name in the mighty name of Jesus Amen! Indeed God is great! Remember we are not alone and God is with us! For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future Jeremiah 29:11 and as we should all remember John 3:16 For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten so that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life and Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. : remember that He is God of the hills and valleys and WE ARE NOT ARE NOT ALONE

[@manofgod7622]

It was your immune system and your organs making you recover. It wasn’t god.

[@ayingchanda]

@@manofgod7622 medicines too and healthy diet also lifestyle

[@IsaiahHollins]

Legend has it was predestined for you to make this video, while it was of my free will to write this stupid comment.

[@ThriftyCHNR]

Nope, this video appeared in your youtube account. It caught your eye, and you were compelled to click on it. Then you, being stupid, wrote your comment. No free will at all.

[@Hgulix62]

@@ThriftyCHNR - How did you know that he did not chose to click ?

[@ballsach8864]

StupidityKiller - Nobody just has thoughts with no strings attached to them my dude that not how the brain works. People have always believed in some spirit or soul that guides our actions but it’s been proven time and time again to be nothing but something invented by the mind to cope.

[@thushansylva]

' Change' This is the reality! Thoughts change! Things change! No freewill ! Every existence is part of everything. All connected! Interconnected! Tell me your being is free from what?

[@Fendora]

Earliest I have ever seen SOL videos!!!

[@gajajaya]

I being an astrology enthusiast,I strongly believe "fate" and "determinism" and in most cases prove it,but lately I am starting to believe that with proper guided methods one can bend his fate to an limited extend.

[@felador5959]

Yes. of course, everything is predetermined. If you could understand the behaviour of every quark and the behaviour of what they are made of, you will be able to tell what the atom will do. If you know what every atom in the universe will do, you can map out the entire existence of everything. Nothing in life is truly random if you know what it will do.

[@JTrollGaming444]

N0ught Of course not, the world physically speaking obeys the laws of Cience which are, as we all know, deterministic, but we can’t apply the same principle for human beings, because there is not a single mind in this whole planet that can believe they haven’t got truly and inherently free will themselves. It’s possible to believe that someone else is determined but no one can prove they are determined themselves. After you read my comment you are given the choice of either replying or ignoring it and while deliberating wheter or not to reply you are using your capacity of free will that cannot be predicted by the behaviour of subatomic particles that obey especific quantom physics laws that cannot be 100% rightfully proven like all science ( only logic can be 100% proven since it’s based on rational thinking and not in empiric observation that may be wrong due to the incertainty of human beings). Besides, randomness exists because probability exists, it’s just to hard to conceptualise and imagine it, like a new colour or the concept of time, If you are given a choice between A, B and C you think the one you picked was already determined and you didnt have other choice but there is and you deliberated to choose for eg A on purpose but u could still choose the other 2, it was possible but it just didnt happen, in other words, you cannot prove that it was certain you were going to chose A but its also impossible to prove you could choose the others. With all this said, I believe in compatibilism

[@Jelkartin]

I think you are not free to succeed in everything but you are free to try everything. So you are as free as you think you are.

[@odararumbol8781]

This was AMAZING! The illustration and animation was wonderful!

[@almilligan7317]

Since the fundamental aspect of reality is the will of course we are free as things-in-themselves. The individual is the thing-in-itself, not the ego, not the self, but the will. What we will is determinant on character. Change the character change the will. Thus, Paul could say, 'it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.' If you see the reality of the world and then make a dicision that is a free choice. Kierkegaard called this the leap of faith. Reason is limited to the phenomenal presentation, the will is not.

[@FRUXT]

Great video ! I love the stoic perspective on this subject ! "It's in an unprotesting acceptance of determinism that we find serenity" It seems to be from the great Spinoza ! :) You're right to say determinism can be perceive from different point of view, like class, genetic, politic ... From these perspective, it seems clear that our free will is totally reduce by external facts. But there is an other perspective : physics perspective. Matter obey to law of physics which are invariable. Human is made by matter, thoughts probably come from chemical reactions (matter) so.... from this perspective free will is a total illusion.

[@roothik]

I think this video deals just with the deterministic factors that we are conscious of to answer the question in the title. But if we really want an answer, we need to look deeper and address that there are deterministic factors we are not aware of (biochemical, genetic, environmental etc) that shape and drive our behavior. With those in mind, many neuroscientists and philosophers do not believe that there is free will.