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0 pointsiancmceachern1y ago0 comments

Isn't the lack of free will also the lack of consciousness?

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"Free will" and "consciousness" are poorly defined, as each means different things to different people.

I can't remember if it was Frederick Nitzsche or Alistair Crowley who said there's only one thing you can do which is truly your own will; that definition seems to me inherently deterministic in a way which violates other people's ideas of free will.

I've seen (and been confused by) a Young Earth creationist fundamentalist Baptist, who cleaned not to believe in evolution "because [he] believed in free will".

"Consciousness" apparently has around 40 definitions.

iancmceachernOP1y ago

>"Consciousness" apparently has around 40 definitions

Yes but only one that applies here.

From oxfords: "Internal knowledge or conviction; the state or fact of being mentally conscious or aware of something."

I disagree, I think they're both very clearly defined. Both in the clinical and law sense.

ben_w1y ago

I don't see how that helps.

I am deeply confused by much of BDSM, but I am aware that some people report enjoying the experience of not having any control, of their ability to choose being taken away from them.

Can you also give an example of what you mean by "free will" such that your chosen definition does help?

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ben_w1y ago

"Free will" and "consciousness" are poorly defined, as each means different things to different people.

I've seen (and been confused by) a Young Earth creationist fundamentalist Baptist, who cleaned not to believe in evolution "because [he] believed in free will".

"Consciousness" apparently has around 40 definitions.

iancmceachernOP1y ago

>"Consciousness" apparently has around 40 definitions

Yes but only one that applies here.

From oxfords: "Internal knowledge or conviction; the state or fact of being mentally conscious or aware of something."

I disagree, I think they're both very clearly defined. Both in the clinical and law sense.

ben_w1y ago

I don't see how that helps.

I am deeply confused by much of BDSM, but I am aware that some people report enjoying the experience of not having any control, of their ability to choose being taken away from them.

Can you also give an example of what you mean by "free will" such that your chosen definition does help?

2 more replies

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse