Nietzsche: Reject Free Will, Become Who You Are | Brian Leiter

An interview with professor Brian Leiter on Nietzsche's critique of free will.
Some links to further guide your study:
* Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: johnathanbi.com
* Full transcript: open.substack.com/pub/johnath...
Companion lectures & interviews:
* Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morality Explained: • Masters vs. Slaves | N...
Professor Leiter's books relevant to this interview (affiliate):
* Nietzsche on Morality: amzn.to/3x4QQMc
* My book notes: www.johnathanbi.com/p/nietzsc...
* Moral Psychology with Nietzsche: amzn.to/3yL9fy3
* My book notes: www.johnathanbi.com/p/moral-p...
TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 1. Introduction
00:02:16 1.1 Introduction: Nietzsche’s Position on Free Will
00:05:16 1.2 Introduction: Contemporary Positions on Free Will
00:12:31 2.1 Arguments Against Free Will: Psychology & Language
00:18:13 2.2 Arguments Against Free Will: Phenomenology
00:29:10 2.3 Arguments Against Free Will: Genetics & the Unconscious
00:40:18 2.4 Arguments Against Free Will: My (Naive) Position on Free Will
00:44:23 3.1 Prescriptions: Implications in Legal Philosophy
00:48:15 3.2 Prescriptions: Is Free Will a Noble Lie?
00:50:34 3.3 Prescriptions: “Become Who You Are”

[@bi.johnathan]

Howdy all. This is my first interview so would love to hear some feedback. What do you think of this format? How can I improve? Let me know in the comments! Some links to further guide your study: * Join my email list to be notified of future episodes: johnathanbi.com * Full transcript: open.substack.com/pub/johnathanbi/p/transcript-for-brian-leiter-interview?r=l66v& Companion lectures & interviews: * Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morality Explained: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2HaY5iHYquWe6M Professor Leiter's books relevant to this interview (affiliate): * Nietzsche on Morality: amzn.to/3x4QQMc * My book notes: www.johnathanbi.com/p/nietzsche-on-morality-by-brian-leiter * Moral Psychology with Nietzsche: amzn.to/3yL9fy3 * My book notes: www.johnathanbi.com/p/moral-psychology-with-nietzsche-by TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 1. Introduction 00:02:16 1.1 Introduction: Nietzsche’s Position on Free Will 00:05:16 1.2 Introduction: Contemporary Positions on Free Will 00:12:31 2.1 Arguments Against Free Will: Psychology & Language 00:18:13 2.2 Arguments Against Free Will: Phenomenology 00:29:10 2.3 Arguments Against Free Will: Genetics & the Unconscious 00:40:18 2.4 Arguments Against Free Will: My (Naive) Position on Free Will 00:44:23 3.1 Prescriptions: Implications in Legal Philosophy 00:48:15 3.2 Prescriptions: Is Free Will a Noble Lie? 00:50:34 3.3 Prescriptions: “Become Who You Are”

[@user-um4di5qm8p]

Sir, thank you for all the hard work. Your lectures on Rene Girard were truly EPIC!!

[@bi.johnathan]

Thank you for engaging with my work!

[@raketemensch6116]

Excellent, seems like the most natural format for you.

[@davidcasey1442]

I think this is a rare format: You seldomly see someone talking about a topic without trying to tell a narrative or trying to contextualize it into justifying their own philosophy. You are just here to learn.

[@Spokenwisdom1]

Allow us to breathe. The lecture was like a thanksgiving meal.

[@tomsterdaniels]

Love the way you frame these talks in your introductions, especially when you bring in the personal element of how the works influenced your own choices. Really helps turn the material from abstract theory into actionable meaning.

[@newyorkalb]

Props to Jonathan for the interview and inviting thinkers to talk on these fundamental ideas from geniuses like Nietzche. Although bro often got ahead of himself and promptly schooled by dr Leiter 😂

[@Lexthebarbarian]

Oh man, I "like" before I watch because I know this is going to be good! This is what internet and youtube is for!

[@alisonbell7473]

love this, professor shed a lot of light and the interview flowed so well! will share with all my friends

[@AndrewFraga-jm5yw]

I just found you on KZbin, probably my philosophy algorithm. I was fascinated by your Girard lectures. These interviews seem to be amazing as well. I can't wait to watch you grow to a million subscribers.

[@visalserei]

Until you make the unconscious, conscious. You will continue to call it fate and destiny.

[@blissr6277]

-Carl Jung

[@mohammedabohnad760]

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.

[@tejaswibhavaraju_upenn]

Can't wait for the next lecture!

[@darillus1]

I have done that" says my memory. I could not have done that - says my pride and remains implacable. Finally - my memory gives up- Nietzsche

[@billlumbergh6294]

Great interview.. And the music also fits so well.

[@physics1518]

I'd love to not believe in free will, but unfortunately I'm genetically determined to believe in it.

[@tumelonkonyane8015]

Huh? That is a contradicting statement

[@physics1518]

@@tumelonkonyane8015 Correct. It's self-contradictory.

[@gamma4524]

@@physics1518 it really isnt ,its a refutation of the absolute lack of choice ,besides that Nietzsches system of Drives and Wills is exceptional at explaining and describing human behavior and psychology. Where he fails is his total lack of "choice" if which we believe we "cant trust our" conclusion because we "cant" do anything. We only will do things and wont do anything besides.

[@Suspicious1432]

Thank you so much for the great discussion. I realize how Nietzsche perhaps accepted amor fati- by giving up free will and the inevitable greatness or uniqueness as an individual.

[@jeancarrenpao]

Thank you ❤🌹🙏

[@p-p.p]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video and have learned a great deal from it, even without reading Nietzsche. I conduct extensive research in the academic realm and have come to understand that the Christian religion was established by King James to distinguish it from the Catholic Church ("Vatican"), driven by a quest for power. I appreciate the presentation and your perspectives. However, I believe an important aspect is missing: the discussion on how technology now governs "free will." People often overlook that modern technology can influence others through light. Previously, influence was exerted through electric waves, but now it is through light. This video has inspired me to read Nietzsche's books most definitely.

[@jcmorgan26]

You're very misinformed about the Christian religion... King James authorised the King James Version of the bible to be in opposition to the Catholic bible of the time, but it wasn't King James that "established Christianity"... that would be Jesus Christ. Catholicism IS Christianity; if you're using the term Christianity as a stand-in for "Protestantism" (as so many do under the false impression that Catholics aren't Christians) then you're still incorrect because Protestantism came about long before King James authorised the KJV with the Reformation. You may be getting confused with Henry VIII who formally created the Church of England and rejected papal authority after the Catholic Church refused to annul his marriage

[@leroykid1971]

What helped save free will for me, is thinking about how the divine will is the source, and it isn't a hypothetical willingness, as God is simple with no parts or potential, yet still free. In other words, free will isn't the power to choose between plurality, but to choose existence in-itself for-itself and by-itself, the divine essense.

[@user-dr6ks7tv2b]

Keep up this kind of contents! As if I am included in the discussion.

[@MajorasMaskMailman]

Yikes, your jumping in at 11:04 was a little clunky. It didn't sound like you actually thought was Professor Leiter was saying was fascinating and that you just wanted to say your thing.

[@bowandstring3482]

Jonathan! I have been agreeably drawn into your world by your series on Girard, whose work arrested me upon first meeting and continues to reveal aspects of the reality that presents itself to me. Thank you for that rich gift! I recently took in your Nietzsche lecture and interview with Leiter and have this feeling that you are teetering on your own leap of faith in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. I sense this because of your understandable focus on Christianity--the ideas and acts of the disciples from the day of New Testament Pentecost to the present--as opposed to Christ himself. Understandable because the opportunities for critique are far more rich than on that divine figure whose teaching and example stop us in every track we make, requiring everything of ourselves in order to participate in his redemptive project. Seriously, I thank God for you and pray that a-mazing grace will always be there for you as you continue to unpack this gift of life.

[@bi.johnathan]

Thank you. I am indeed still seeking (and quite torn) … I would like to believe but do not yet

[@henrytep8884]

@@bi.johnathan You should have a conversation with John Vervaeke. That would definitely be beneficial to everyone involved including the audience and viewers. Loving your content, I'm about to call you Philosophy Zaddy.

[@AxelAxe]

Jonathan this is an outstanding interview. I hope we can meet soon and do an episode together. I would love to have you on my show

[@learningwithharry4996]

Thank you for this. I learned a lot from Leiter's Nietzsche's articles on the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. As for feedback, just keep doing what you are doing here and follow the Bryan Magee model. Find interesting guests and let them speak.

[@bi.johnathan]

Thanks. His interviews and sugrue’s lectures were big influences

[@ALavin-en1kr]

A gunslinger said: “Be who you are, because if you ain’t who you are, then you are who you ain’t.” Maybe it would be better for the gunslinger if he wasn’t a gunslinger. Maybe he could have been s sherif instead and put gunslingers in the slammer where they belonged. There is good and bad in our dual system, it is better to choose the good, as choosing the bad is going with the weak force which is operating from a position of weakness rather than from a position of strength and ultimately peters out as does the person who chooses it. There is also the Middle Way which Religion, Philosophy, and Psychology recommend which is negotiating a path between the opposites; the dualities of our dual system, as aligning with one of the dualities or the other is likely to constellate its opposite. As in our dual system opposites exist and operate in tandem. We are truly are between the devil and the deep blue sea.

[@Delta19G]

Is free will a bad thing? Or why is my experience saying that my thought proceeded an action

[@BenStowell]

I don't think free will is necessary to make choices or to live one's life. When I am choosing, I deliberate because I have to. I want the best outcome, so it's in my own interest to deliberate as much and as well as I can. Because I am the kind of being that wants the best outcome, it's inevitable that I will deliberate as I do. I do not choose my knowledge or intelligence; if I could I would will my knowledge and intelligence to be greater than they are. So I am forced to deliberate as I do, and thus my choice is fated. Knowing my choice is fated does not change how I choose. I was always going to try to make the best choice I could with what I had.

[@taylanulukr9081]

I would love to listen your dialogue with Sam Harris about free will, Buddhism, meditation, morality and consciousness.

[@georgeluke6382]

There's something overlapping here with reconciling oneself to God's determination of all things, and how this frees one to become who one is as an image of God, in the branch of Christendom I come from (broadly Protestant Calvinism). Do you have any resources on whether Nietzche is critiquing a particular kind of Christian theism, or Christian theism writ large, as he critiques the freedom of the will?

[@bi.johnathan]

Good connection .. but not aware of any books

[@MrDziuka]

Free will is everything, you make compromises often but it's not like your life is out of control. I am in control over my life and at least a big part. It is a very nice feeling, very satisfying and happy. Find your own balance people, that would be my advice if you look for one. To work out what really makes you feel happy sometimes takes time. Just be patient and go with the flow of life, without switching off. I lived in communism, be careful when you are talking about it or a similar ideology.

[@lucacuradossi1040]

Not believing in free will can also be a nice feeling

[@gmw3083]

The no freewill argument is the last refuge of those who get on a track early in life. They start looking back at some point and can't fathom that it could have happened any other way. When you live a life full of mistakes, and manage to learn from some of them, it becomes apparent that freewill is part of learning and growth. This guy and Robert Saplowsky will be back to ride the wheel of samsara again.

[@user-zh1th8sz2l]

@@gmw3083 Sapolsky's a joke pretty much. In any case, free will is a fundamental faculty of conscious life, so obvious and abundant that it requires no explanation or justification. And it doesn't matter how shitty your life goes, you have just as much free will as anyone else. There's no connection, no overlap whatsoever between one's lot in life and the existence and possession of free will. Absolute dead zero.

[@user-es9qo9hx2r]

Your life is in control because of circumstances, not your free will. When I look back, almost everything (good or bad) that happened to me is not fundamentally due to my free will. Eerie.

[@youtubecanal]

That statement remind me Advaita Vedanta and Zen Budism philosophy.

[@johnmichaelcornett3598]

I’m currently at 29:43 in arguments against free will. Smell or taste etc don’t have the capacity for storytelling, one of the most important methods of guaranteeing social cohesion across time. One can’t smell Alexander the Great now yet we can read about the rise of Macedonia, amor fati and recurrence if taken the route of naturalism through the lense of narrative shows is the pattern recognition we see in ethical conduct. Philosophies at once find the language to encapsulate the reasons for eachother and at the same time critique its ability to do. A sentence like this can’t be smelled

[@refoundable]

Battle of the wills

[@NoW_Is_TimE]

I just found you this my second video you are a modern day profit life is absolutely wonderful thank you God as I get closer to you and my true powers.

[@stevendelay5398]

Ought one to "give up" the idea of free will? Impossible: either because there is no free will, in which case one couldn't truly "choose" to give it up (for all of our choices, including that one, would be illusory), or else because we do have free will, in which case there is no way to escape being free (we are, as Sartre would say, condemned to it).

[@tilelate9718]

Or condemned to merely feel like we're free

[@jcmorgan26]

I think, like with many things, the truth is somewhere in the middle. Each of us has a nature, it likely has an immutable aspect but is also influenced by our upbringing, environment, etc, but each of us has the freedom to deny our basic nature and make a different choice. This is the basis of many religious ideas; Christianity emphasises the fallen nature of humanity and our proclivity to sin but commands us to deny ourselves and aspire to the standard set by God, that humans cannot attain due to our fallen nature (hence the need for a saviour in Jesus Christ).

[@youtubecanal]

After hear and poundering the arguments, I think the "do we have free will or not" is an irrelevant question.

[@MajorasMaskMailman]

35:53

[@katlegokoopman3606]

Some action are emotionally based or influenced,emotions take over you are not in control,that's when angry and do something bad when come down you regret you won't do it on your right mind.when calm down come to your natural state you regret because was not you was your emotions. Emotions is a thing of the body ego (i identify the ego as body because can be a driver of action and emotions)not will.emotion are perspectives weather you consider something bad or good.there are people who sell drugs in their minds is good in someones mind is bad .good of bad is morality above is understanding,bad or good perspective.The core word colour Grey.black and white merged. Grey is understanding instead of judging if we go a extra mile you can put compassion.

[@timothyminton9435]

Pretty cool channel.

[@questioneverything7011]

Do we actually have freewill ? 🧐 Interesting conversation.

[@darillus1]

Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions - Epictetus

[@bi.johnathan]

Nietzsche would say that Epicurus doesn’t go far enough.

[@darillus1]

@@bi.johnathan I was quoting Epictetus, not Epicurus...and Epictetus would say Nietzsche is straying too far into not having almost no control whatsoever

[@bi.johnathan]

@@darillus1 ah my error, misread ... long day!

[@07bmarshall]

I'm not sure I will read another philosophy book after this one.

[@Redz-zl4ki]

There are so many videos I want to watch on youtube, but I chose this. Is that not free will?

[@NoW_Is_TimE]

I like the free will topic for example Im not going into an environment with my girl whos a 10. Surrounded by vultures to hit on her while I'm only 5'8 140 lbs I physically cannot destroy the men larger then me if needed physically. Therfore I dont have the free will to go to said environment wit my 10 to be able to defend her/us in case of bigger male threats or disrespect.

[@MrJamesdryable]

The seats are a little close.

[@mrweber4496]

The music is to loud and not needed

[@Xanadu2025]

There are no evil people? Ridiculous!

[@mohammedabohnad760]

No evil at all. That’s what he thought of.

[@jayBisht0001]

1. Free will is there when you find out who you are, beforehand it's just predicted.

[@jayBisht0001]

2. You guys have to check spirituality not psychology.

[@jayBisht0001]

3. Check out *Jason Gragory*, for this concept

[@jayBisht0001]

3. Try Bhagvat Geeta as a philosophy

[@encounteringthetrinity]

True freedom is not the ability to choose but the inability do do anything other than one’s unique personal calling. Christ (for those who are Christian’s) has no gnomic (deliberative) will. He could not NOT do the truth, so never needed to decide. So plugged into the Source (God), he did the truth naturally, without remainder…

[@katlegokoopman3606]

You guys go im circles, some thoughts influenced by environment what people think and talk program your mind.Which put people on autopilot.People think about things that happen around them that being said or done around them.But if one willfully do things if I tell you something you accept or do it immediately and think about it first that is free will.If i choose to put up your hand up you will then put it up then you access to your will if Brush yout teeth in the morning subconsciously then is not free will is what the body is used to.If willfully with consciously brush your teeth then is will.will and body can be separate you can brush you teeth and think about something else but if brush you teeth and think about brushing you teeth you you do it willfully.

[@nunu4evaaa]

Ofc theirs no freewill. This comment proves it.

[@IFYOUWANTITGOGETIT]

Look up free will Robert Sapolsky

[@criticalthinker-ys7vt]

Now i understand why people always talk about responsibility and try to make you responsible, they wanna punish you and blame you.

[@mohammedabohnad760]

Why they wanna do thag if you didn’t have any wrong doings ?

[@criticalthinker-ys7vt]

@@mohammedabohnad760 if wrong doing exists then taking revenge by punishing, blaming is also wrong doing.

[@mohammedabohnad760]

@@criticalthinker-ys7vt it is not. Social life should be equilibrium. If you steal you get punished. It is not your money it is somebody’s else’s money. Therefore, you should compensate.

[@mohammedabohnad760]

I don’t understand this man; if he is against slaves morality as he calls it weak and degrading. How come then he went mad by witnessing a beaten horse ? If he denies free will - all the definitions of free will - then the salves will always be as they are and never upgrade to superman. ? There is a distinction between not having a truth of things beyond phenomenology and to deny any truth at all.

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

You mean soul agency isn't. Free will inertia Is the actor or action of person. You can measure free will . Niechtze gives up subjective properties and idealism for physicalism. Soul agency correlated with eternal cosmos, soul agency drives free will inertia frame of reference. Personal responses, action is not individual.. English is a triality German and catholic dualism. Their Is a soul individual They're are personal responses and measureable free will mobility Form and shape is there also Niechtze despised uk & America . But American founders choice of free will term Is because it's measured medium

[@mickymao7313]

Overdone 😂

[@nostrasimpus8359]

Bro you gotta turn it down like 2 notches. Youre not as smart as you think you are and its off-putting when you constantly interrupt a guest

[@ALavin-en1kr]

I don’t agree with this. Animals operate entirely according to instinct. Humans have both instinct and reason. What is the purpose or reason if it is not to negotiate a path, or choice, between our instinctive and our rational or cognitive self? It is in error and downgrades the human to say we do not have free will. The scope of our free will is circumscribed. For example, we cannot cause a thunderstorm to end by our command but we have much within our scope where we can exercise our will and judgement. To suggest that as humans we are automatons is abhorrent.

[@bi.johnathan]

Leiter argues that our conscious life is incredibly shallow and limited in perceiving what is “really” driving us. Ie. we aren’t conscious / reason cannot even access our deepest drives

[@ALavin-en1kr]

@@bi.johnathan Reason is a function, it negotiates a path between opposites and helps us to maintain a balance between wants, needs, and the environment. It helps us negotiate a path between the rational and the non-rational.

[@AM-di8if]

You might lose viewers due to the loud intro music that drowns your voice.

[@chetanyadav271]

Best thing that happened to me Dis month! A genuine and true admirer of your work!❤️🤍✨️

[@bi.johnathan]

Just the beginning! Thanks for engaging with my work.

[@chetanyadav271]

@@bi.johnathan I'll truly cherish dis reply!

[@alexmarinica5310]

@@bi.johnathan Is it your work, or is it the work?