Free Will

When there is a disagreement about an unclear idea (e.g. Free Will), it may be worthwhile to have the disagreeing parties first clarify what physical manifestation (i.e. observable) differences they are actually disagreeing about.

The opposite of inevitability. Used by Daniel Dennett to describe how he thinks we should work to manage thinking about Free Will within his version of Compatibilism.

“Albert says that people have “free will.” Barry says that people don’t have “free will.” Well, that will certainly generate an apparent conflict. Most philosophers would advise Albert and Barry to try to define exactly what they mean by “free will,” on which topic they will certainly be able to discourse at great length. I would advise Albert and Barry to describe what it is that they think people do, or do not have, without using the phrase “free will” at all. (If you want to try this at home, you should also avoid the words “choose,” “act,” “decide,” “determined,” “responsible,” or any of their synonyms.) This is one of the nonstandard tools in my toolbox, and in my humble opinion, it works way way better than the standard one. It also requires more effort to use; you get what you pay for.” (Eliezer Yudkowsky, Rationality)

Use reduction to clarify arguments, mentions of Free Will

Free Will

still thinking about this, but I think this fits with essentially my idea of Free Will

A component of the arguments against Free Will

I suggest that implicit and explicit effects should not be treated differently. Not only because it is not a morally valuable differentiation (see discussions of Free Will, and Friendly Utilitarianism|Moral Love), but also because we often wrongly differentiate direct and indirect causality.

Free Will

“Albert says that people have “free will.” Barry says that people don’t have “free will.” Well, that will certainly generate an apparent conflict. Most philosophers would advise Albert and Barry to try to define exactly what they mean by “free will,” on which topic they will certainly be able to discourse at great length. I would advise Albert and Barry to describe what it is that they think people do, or do not have, without using the phrase “free will” at all. (If you want to try this at home, you should also avoid the words “choose,” “act,” “decide,” “determined,” “responsible,” or any of their synonyms.) This is one of the nonstandard tools in my toolbox, and in my humble opinion, it works way way better than the standard one. It also requires more effort to use; you get what you pay for.” (Eliezer Yudkowsky, Rationality)

Use reduction to clarify arguments, mentions of Free Will