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Théo d'Or 's Reviews > Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will
Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will
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Detective De Termini :
" - Alright, inmate, let's cut to the chase. You're here because you chose to commit the crime , correct ? "
Free Will :
" - Well, detective , if you've read Sapolsky, you'd know it's not that simple. My choices are just the end result of a complex biochemical recipe. "
Detective De Termini :
" - So, you're saying you had no control ? That your neurons made you do it ? "
Free Will :
" - Exactly. It's all about neurons and hormones. I mean, if my prefrontal cortex had a better conversation with my amygdala, maybe I wouldn't have ended up here. "
Detective De Termini :
" - And I suppose your serotonin levels were the accomplice ? "
Free Will :
" - Right ,detective . Low serotonin could mean less impulse control. Like a car with faulty brakes. "
Detective De Termini :
" - Well...I guess we'II need to put your neurotransmitters on trial then. Courtroom's going to be crowded with all those molecules in the defendant's box. Now, considering everything is determined by prior causes, where does that leave your so-called ' choices ' ? "
Free Will :
" - Oh, detective, my choices are like dominoes in a long chain, each one set off by the last. The universe's ultimate Rube Goldberg machine. "
Detective De Termini :
" - So, you're a mere cog in the cosmic machinery, huh ? Predestined to be here, in this interrogation room ? "
Free Will :
" - Exactly, detective. From the Big Bang to my big bust, it's all been written in the stars and my DNA. "
Detective De Termini :
" - Hmm...Quite fatalistic view.. But if everything is predetermined, why bother with the charade of law and order ? "
Free Will :
" - Ah, but there's the rub , detective. The illusion of free will is a necessary part of the deterministic play. We're all actors following a script we can't read. And if we could calculate every variable, we'd see that I had no more choice in my actions than a leaf has in falling from a tree. "
Detective De Termini :
" - Interesting, Free Will. But until we have that level of omniscience, I'II keep doing my job, and you'II keep doing...well, whatever it is that's been determined for you. So, tell me about your childhood. Were you raised by wolves or just influenced by too many video games ? "
Free Will :
" - Neither, detective. I was raised by a pack of wild psychologists who conditioned me to respond to stimuli ! Can you imagine ? "
Detective De Termini :
" - Hardly. I thought only Pavlov's dog enjoyed this treat. Tell me, Free Will, ever heard of cognitive behavioral therapy ? "
Free Will :
" - Is that like jail for the mind ? Because if so, my prefrontal cortex could use some time behind bars to reflect on its poor decisions. "
Detective De Termini :
" - More like training camp. We'II whip those neural pathways into shape and turn those bad decisions into better ones. "
Free Will :
" - Sounds promising, detective. But what my environment ? It's been an accesory to the crime since day one. "
Detective De Termini :
" True, but we can't put your environment in handcuffs. We can, however, change it. How about we start with a new social circle ? "
Free Will :
" - I'd like that. Maybe one that doesn't trigger my fight-or-flight response everytime I make a decision. "
Detective De Termini :
" - Then I guess it's destiny that you're getting a fair trial, Free Will.
Let's hope the jury's decisions are as ' determined ' as yours were " .
" - Alright, inmate, let's cut to the chase. You're here because you chose to commit the crime , correct ? "
Free Will :
" - Well, detective , if you've read Sapolsky, you'd know it's not that simple. My choices are just the end result of a complex biochemical recipe. "
Detective De Termini :
" - So, you're saying you had no control ? That your neurons made you do it ? "
Free Will :
" - Exactly. It's all about neurons and hormones. I mean, if my prefrontal cortex had a better conversation with my amygdala, maybe I wouldn't have ended up here. "
Detective De Termini :
" - And I suppose your serotonin levels were the accomplice ? "
Free Will :
" - Right ,detective . Low serotonin could mean less impulse control. Like a car with faulty brakes. "
Detective De Termini :
" - Well...I guess we'II need to put your neurotransmitters on trial then. Courtroom's going to be crowded with all those molecules in the defendant's box. Now, considering everything is determined by prior causes, where does that leave your so-called ' choices ' ? "
Free Will :
" - Oh, detective, my choices are like dominoes in a long chain, each one set off by the last. The universe's ultimate Rube Goldberg machine. "
Detective De Termini :
" - So, you're a mere cog in the cosmic machinery, huh ? Predestined to be here, in this interrogation room ? "
Free Will :
" - Exactly, detective. From the Big Bang to my big bust, it's all been written in the stars and my DNA. "
Detective De Termini :
" - Hmm...Quite fatalistic view.. But if everything is predetermined, why bother with the charade of law and order ? "
Free Will :
" - Ah, but there's the rub , detective. The illusion of free will is a necessary part of the deterministic play. We're all actors following a script we can't read. And if we could calculate every variable, we'd see that I had no more choice in my actions than a leaf has in falling from a tree. "
Detective De Termini :
" - Interesting, Free Will. But until we have that level of omniscience, I'II keep doing my job, and you'II keep doing...well, whatever it is that's been determined for you. So, tell me about your childhood. Were you raised by wolves or just influenced by too many video games ? "
Free Will :
" - Neither, detective. I was raised by a pack of wild psychologists who conditioned me to respond to stimuli ! Can you imagine ? "
Detective De Termini :
" - Hardly. I thought only Pavlov's dog enjoyed this treat. Tell me, Free Will, ever heard of cognitive behavioral therapy ? "
Free Will :
" - Is that like jail for the mind ? Because if so, my prefrontal cortex could use some time behind bars to reflect on its poor decisions. "
Detective De Termini :
" - More like training camp. We'II whip those neural pathways into shape and turn those bad decisions into better ones. "
Free Will :
" - Sounds promising, detective. But what my environment ? It's been an accesory to the crime since day one. "
Detective De Termini :
" True, but we can't put your environment in handcuffs. We can, however, change it. How about we start with a new social circle ? "
Free Will :
" - I'd like that. Maybe one that doesn't trigger my fight-or-flight response everytime I make a decision. "
Detective De Termini :
" - Then I guess it's destiny that you're getting a fair trial, Free Will.
Let's hope the jury's decisions are as ' determined ' as yours were " .
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Determined.
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Reading Progress
February 27, 2024
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 27, 2024
– Shelved
March 5, 2024
–
Started Reading
March 5, 2024
–
5.0%
"In the science's shadow, where the sewers spill ,
Dwells a ninja turtle, killing the free will."
Dwells a ninja turtle, killing the free will."
March 5, 2024
–
8.0%
"So far , it seems it is not my free will who decide my acts, but I am determined in this direction. A terrible nuance to explain. In other words, I'm not my own master. This is a serious problem."
March 6, 2024
–
18.0%
"[ Brain regions ] - The insular cortex , which is involved in olfactory and gustatory disgust & Sapolsky explain that the insula's ability to help protect us from spoiled food developed around 100 million years ago and that much later ( tens of thousands of years ago ) , humans developed constructs like morality and resulting disgust at violating moral norms.
How the hell did we degenerate ?"
How the hell did we degenerate ?"
March 6, 2024
–
18.0%
"Similarly, the orbitofrontal cortex ( OFC ) is involved in assessing beauty and morality. In three studies, subjects were placed in brain scanners and assessing independently beauty and morality both caused the OFC to light up. As Sapolsky notes, " does this by itself disprove free will ? No way, but it is one of the hundreds of examples that he provides that collectively weaken the idea of volitional intent "."
March 7, 2024
–
24.0%
"I made an experiment on Sex. ( my cat ). I set up two bowling of food in different corners of the room. One bowl had his usual dry kibble, and the other had a delicious can of tuna. Then I let Sex into the room and observed what he would do. According to the theory of free will, Sex should be able to choose between the two options, based on his preferences. According to the theory of determinism, Sex sh....."
March 7, 2024
–
29.0%
"Once upon a time there was the inmate Free Will, and detective De Termini. Will wasn't really free, and De Termini wanted to dispel any doubts he had about that. After some eternity, the detective is still struggling.
" - I've got your number, Free Will. It's 42. "
" - Clever, Detective. But my number is Pi. ""
" - I've got your number, Free Will. It's 42. "
" - Clever, Detective. But my number is Pi. ""
March 8, 2024
–
34.0%
"The day I'II get rid of the advertising shits, I'II be able to say I'm truly free."
March 8, 2024
–
35.0%
"Amerikanskaya firma Transceptor Technologies pristupila k proisvodstvu kompyuterov " Personalnyy Sputnik ".
I've got the Power !!!"
I've got the Power !!!"
March 9, 2024
–
35.0%
"Amerikanskaya firma Transceptor Technologies pristupila k proisvodstvu kompyuterov Personalny Sputnik.
I've got the Power !!!!"
I've got the Power !!!!"
March 10, 2024
–
35.0%
"" We do our worst when we're surrounded by a lot of people who agree with us ".
Perfectly valid also in the gr area."
Perfectly valid also in the gr area."
March 10, 2024
–
43.0%
"Detective De Termini :
" Well, Free Will, let's face it. You're here because you chose to commit the crime, correct ?
Free Will :
" Well, Detective, if you've read Sapolsky, you'd know it's not that simple. My " choices" are just the end result of a complex biochemical recipe."
Detective De Termini :
" So, you're saying you had no control ?
That your neurons made you do it ? "
Free Will :
" Exa..."
" Well, Free Will, let's face it. You're here because you chose to commit the crime, correct ?
Free Will :
" Well, Detective, if you've read Sapolsky, you'd know it's not that simple. My " choices" are just the end result of a complex biochemical recipe."
Detective De Termini :
" So, you're saying you had no control ?
That your neurons made you do it ? "
Free Will :
" Exa..."
March 11, 2024
–
Finished Reading
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message 1:
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Irena
(new)
Mar 18, 2024 09:46AM
A brilliant review. Sapolsky would have appreciated.;)
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Thank you, Irena. I don't know if he'd have appreciated it, but the analogies made by him denote a remarqable sense of humor.
Yes, I've listened to lectures he gave for The Teaching Company (now The Great Courses), and it's never a dull moment.;)
Oh, yes, for example comparing the brain's decision-making process to a commitee meeting, where different parts of the brain represent commitee members who have their own opinions it is not only fun, but it makes the learning process much more accessible for his students. Even his " selfies" with different primates contain a certain dose of humor, considering the wildness of his hair, in some photos. They appear as two good comrades, haha !
