I think that we have an ingrained need to believe in free will because we are social animals. We are compelled to interact with others. Gratitude and praise are for rewarding pro-social behaviour, and anger and condemnation are for punishing anti-social behaviour. Punishment and reward are effective (to various extents) whether or not free will exists. We use them to modify the behaviour of non-moral agents such as animals and small children. So altho "ultimate moral responsibility" may not be attributable to people, behaviour can be. And our instinct is to modify that behaviour to our individual and social benefit.
I feel seeking free will, or "ultimate moral responsibility" is not relevent to the human condition.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jack_ryder) wrote2007-05-24 12:58 pm
no subject
I feel seeking free will, or "ultimate moral responsibility" is not relevent to the human condition.
Thus endeth the lesson. :D
no subject
no subject
BTW thanks for that link, it made me think.