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Description
Is it really possible for us to choose other than we do? And, if not, why should that matter?
This series explores the concept of 'determinism', and whether it holds genuine implications for our everyday lives and societies. We'll touch on the themes of moral responsibility and generosity. We'll hear from many who've been heavily involved in these debates, as well as others who are merely stakeholders on the basis of being alive.
FYI: A few bonus episodes with 'extended interviews' to be deployed in the coming weeks.
~ Joe Sexton
https://www.joe-s-blogs.com/
9 Episodes
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James Miles is a British writer with special expertise in evolutionary biology. He's also an ardent free will skeptic, and in 2015 published 'The Free Will Delusion', which informed a conversation featured in episode 3 of this series. In this bonus episode, we tilt towards the subject of James' more recent book, 'AI and the End of Humanity' (2023). How might living beside artificial intelligence in the years ahead affect general attitudes about human 'freedom', for instance? Is free will skep...
Susan Blackmore is a popular British writer and academic. She's well-known for her work in the fields of consciousness and 'memetics' and she also has plenty to say on the issue of free will. Here, we chat about decision-making, 'taking responsibility', forgiveness, and the extent to which a skeptical perspective ought to be pushed onto others. Above all, I was keen to hear how her views on free will have genuinely impacted her own experience of things. Susan is very much a notable in relatio...
Here's a relatively brief conversation with an anonymous contributor I met while doing street interviews at the beginning of the 'TBD' project. Significantly, out of 100 informal interviewees, this eloquent lunch-goer was the only one to declare specific interest in determinism as a worldview. Over just ten minutes or so, she's able to impart some fantastic ideas related to justice, judgement, 'forking paths', and how determinism might exist alongside our experience of consciousness. "Just wh...
Bernard Beckett is a teacher and author based in New Zealand. Among his most acclaimed young adult novels are 'Genesis' and 'Malcom & Juliet'. In 2011, he published 'August', which is a sci-fi novel that deals with themes of determinism and free will. The promotion of this book had a big impact on my own awareness of the topic, so I was keen to chat to Bernard as the first interview I recorded for the series. He's got some great ideas related to compatibilism, pragmatism, and how we might...
If we take a view our lives couldn't ever have been otherwise, how will this affect the way we reflect and anticipate? Does it equally degrade our achievements and console us about disappointments? And how do we proceed if intimidated by a universe whose path we perhaps can't disrupt? After previous episodes focused on distinctly 'societal' concerns, this finale goes for the personal and considers how a deterministic worldview will influence the way we navigate our own stories. Athlete...
Would belief in determinism make a person more generous or insular? Does such a picture advantage progressives or conservatives? And could it make you go softer on those you disagree with? Perhaps believing in a universe whose course is as good as set out confronts us with the impact of 'luck' in a way we wouldn't otherwise acknowledge. But how might such an insight be put to work in society? Two very different camps seem advantaged, but this is all highly speculative! Guest list: Josh Pear...
How much can people be blamed for their own wrongdoing? Is it unrealistic to think we might curb the extent to which we judge one another? If the universe is taken to be essentially determined, then surely this impacts the way everybody's behaviour should be evaluated. Very often, people's ideas on determinism and free will go straight to issues of criminal justice and 'retribution', so we'll spend a good amount of time considering these. There's also some quick religious perspectives, and d...
Do you think it really would have been possible for you to have something different for breakfast this morning? Here, we’ll be introduced to determinism via conversations with authors, professors, teachers, students, and the good folks of various footpaths. We’ll think about whether spreading such a concept is ‘risky’, how it typically affects those who freshly encounter it, and if it's more likely to have positive or negative effects on adherents. Guest list: Bernard Beckett - young adult au...
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