Sam Harris on Free Will
Great video!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRIcbsRXQ0o]
Why We Don’t Have Free Will
USA Today has this excellent article by Jerry Coyne, Professor of Evolution at the University of Chicago. Prof. Coyne’s explanation mirrors my own, however he is much more elegant. His conclusion:
There’s not much downside to abandoning the notion of free will. It’s impossible, anyway, to act as though we don’t have it: you’ll pretend to choose your New Year’s resolutions, and the laws of physics will determine whether you keep them. And there are two upsides. The first is realizing the great wonder and mystery of our evolved brains, and contemplating the notion that things like consciousness, free choice, and even the idea of “me” are but convincing illusions fashioned by natural selection. Further, by losing free will we gain empathy, for we realize that in the end all of us, whether Bernie Madoffs or Nelson Mandelas, are victims of circumstance — of the genes we’re bequeathed and the environments we encounter. With that under our belts, we can go about building a kinder world.
Of course, I’d argue that the benefits are much greater – the absence of fear, guilt, anxiety, anger and worry.
A Brain Cell vs the Universe
Compare the picture of a brain cell on the left with the computer model of the current universe on the right. What does it tell us?
Nothing really, except that the same patterns can be found across the universe.
It’s a nice picture though. 🙂 H/T to Bill Schloendorn.
“Free Will Is An Illusion” Says Sam Harris
Just in case you didn’t believe me, neuroscientist and author Sam Harris has written an excellent piece on free will in the Christmas edition of New Statesmen magazine (which has been edited by Richard Dawkins).
Here’s a screenshot of my iPad copy. It’s worth purchasing the app so you can read the whole thing, it’s only $2.99.
Thanks!
Thanks to everyone who purchased the book on launch day and especially to those of you who Tweeted or Facebooked it. There’s been some lovely feedback. If you get a chance, please drop a quick review on the Amazon page. It looks a bit barren up there at the moment.
I’m thinking about doing an audio version of the book and then perhaps, if I get any questions about the content of the book, a weekly podcast where I can answer questions, have people live on the show to ask questions, etc. What do you think?