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Free Will is an Illusion

by irawr Banned
9 replies
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Free will could all be an illusion, scientists suggest after study shows choice may just be brain tricking itself | Science | News | The Independent

I've been trying to explain this to people for a long time.

The more you study psychology and marketing, you know this has to be true to a certain extent.

Invoking certain emotions lead to dramatic swings in things like conversion rates, shares, opt-ins, and everything else I've ever tested.

You're kidding yourself if you think your conscious mind has control.

I find you have more influence over your subconscious mind when you are honest with yourself about why you do things.
  • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
    Originally Posted by irawr View Post

    Free will could all be an illusion, scientists suggest after study shows choice may just be brain tricking itself | Science | News | The Independent

    I've been trying to explain this to people for a long time.

    The more you study psychology and marketing, you know this has to be true to a certain extent.

    Invoking certain emotions lead to dramatic swings in things like conversion rates, shares, opt-ins, and everything else I've ever tested.

    You're kidding yourself if you think your conscious mind has control.

    I find you have more influence over your subconscious mind when you are honest with yourself about why you do things.
    Lets see now. When you are young you would develop interests in certain areas. Though these areas have restrictions based on the time and place you live in and influences from your peers, there are still a large range to choose from and not everyone bows to peer pressure. So, although it is a little restrictive there is still free will to choose your interests.

    As for marketing you would then seek to buy goods that enhance your interests. These are restricted in choice depending what's out there and your price range. For example, you are interested in Astronomy and would like a Mt Palomar telescope. You do not have the funds to buy one so are restricted to what you can afford.

    Free will and choices will always be restrictive depending on your circumstances and experience but still somewhat free will within those boundaries.
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  • Profile picture of the author positivenegative
    Originally Posted by irawr View Post

    Free Will is an Illusion
    You chose to make this thread.

    Just as the whale chose to jump out of the water....

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  • Profile picture of the author Zodiax
    Claude chooses to eat donuts.
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    'I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion'
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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Zodiax View Post

      Claude chooses to eat donuts.
      That's not free will, it's fate.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
    Free Will is an Illusion
    You knew I would click on this!
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  • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
    Published on Jan 10, 2013
    Sam Harris speaks to sold out Sydney Opera House on the delusion of Free Will at Festival Of Dangerous Ideas 2012. Includes audience questions.


    Joe Mobley
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    Follow Me on Twitter: @daVinciJoe
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  • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
    I believe it was Claude that recently had a whole long spiel on free will - that you don't really have it.

    No clue where that thread is and not ambitious enough to go find it right now.
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by Jill Carpenter View Post

      I believe it was Claude that recently had a whole long spiel on free will - that you don't really have it.

      No clue where that thread is and not ambitious enough to go find it right now.
      That'd be this one:

      http://www.warriorforum.com/off-topi...free-will.html
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      • Profile picture of the author irawr
        Banned
        Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

        I would like to point out that my babbling in that thread actually lines up with the science. You can use external forces and analyze your personal experiences to control your will. It's hard to argue it's "free will" because you're going to have to wrestle with it quite a bit to change things like behaviors or motivation.
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