Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal cover image

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Consciousness, Free Will, The Subconscious, Quantum Mechanics | George Musser

May 3, 2024
George Musser discusses consciousness, free will, the subconscious, and quantum mechanics. They explore how observation influences the physical world in quantum mechanics, debate free will and determinism, and examine the impact of consciousness on decision-making. The conversation emphasizes the complexity of these topics and the need for careful interpretation and exploration of hypotheses.
57:56

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

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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