Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
Consciousness, Free Will, The Subconscious, Quantum Mechanics | George Musser
May 3, 2024
George Musser, an award-winning journalist and author, joins Susan Schneider, a philosophy professor and director at the Center for the Future Mind, to explore the deep nuances of consciousness and free will. They dive into the relationship between consciousness and quantum mechanics, pondering if our minds shape reality. With discussions on wave function collapse and the implications of AI, they illuminate how thoughts may influence matter. Plus, they challenge the deterministic view of the universe, suggesting a compatible existence of free will in our choices.
57:56
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Quick takeaways
- Free will coexists with determinism; perceived actions align with causal processes.
- Consciousness may influence quantum system outcomes; debate on conscious observation role.
Deep dives
The Compatibility of Free Will and Determinism
The discussion delves into the debate on whether free will can coexist with deterministic laws of the universe. The speaker suggests being a compatibilist, stating that while our actions are governed by causal processes, we still perceive ourselves to act with free will. The concept of free will is seen as the essence of making decisions that originate from oneself, even within the constraints of causal determinism.
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