The case against free will
The Gray Area with Sean Illing
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The Absurdity of Blaming and Praising People for Their Outcomes
When people become better at stress management, they secrete less stress hormones, leading to more rational decision-making. This holds true for lab rats as well. Our moral systems, based on treating some people better or worse, do not make sense intellectually as individuals have no control over the circumstances that shape them. Accepting the illusion of free will challenges our understanding of blame and punishment. It is absurd and obscene to behave as though punishment is justified. This unjust world, where children suffer due to factors beyond their control, creates human misery and inequality. We must reject the notion that we get what we deserve.
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