Some Context: Over the past few days, I've been feeling deeply down and powerless due to a plethora of circumstances beyond my control. Why exactly do I feel this way? Last year, I studied the philosophical concepts of free will, the belief that we choose independent of fate or prior action, and determinism, the strict belief that all actions were predetermined from the Big Bang due to prior causes. Most people don't fall exclusively into either of these camps. Most people believe in Compatibilism, where free will and a deterministic universe exist simultaneously as long as outside forces don't interfere.
At the end of the day, none of these beliefs are scientifically proven- as of now they are merely matters of opinion. Yet, free will is a cultural myth that the overwhelming majority of society runs on. The justice system in virtually every country and tribe relies on this myth to make life-or-death decisions. Evolutionarily speaking, we are inclined to believe it; the vast majority of us expect punishment if someone harms us or a loved one because we are innately tethered to believe we possess free agency, even if the science doesn't add up.I'm not endorsing a stance either way, but I truly believe the human race must bypass these binding beliefs that cause us to determine who lives and dies. It isn't fair or right, and it needs to stop. Believing in free will shouldn't mean applying those opinions to deprive people of life and liberty. It should be 100% scientifically based and focused on improving the world. This contradiction between science and society is eating me up.Society must treat people with significantly more value. Every human being has infinite worth, with unique thoughts, ideas, experiences, and values shaping who we are. Life is inexplicable, beautiful, and precious; it must be preserved, protected, and respected to the nth degree. Anyone—regardless of how much you find their thoughts, values, or actions heinous—is worthy of life, love, and dignity. People's identities and actions result more from brain chemistry and environment than "free will." Society is desensitized to violence, treating human life as an expendable, discardable commodity. Life is beautiful and mysterious beyond words. Always remember, there is a life behind every screen. I use the pseudonym Omnilight37 online for privacy, but I am a very real person with thoughts, feelings, a conscience, and a personality. I know everyone reading this has these too.
Furthermore, I feel powerless due to a scientific publication I read. The 2008 study "
Unconscious determinants of free decisions in the human brain" published in Nature Neuroscience proved that brain activity in the prefrontal and parietal cortex predicts a person's decision up to 10 seconds before they consciously make it. If I live without full authority over my actions, am I just a tourist in my brain? This makes me feel deeply sad and disturbed. If I screw up, I am socially expected to say "sorry" and accept full responsibility. If I speed on the highway while trying to look at GE HMAAs, a cop will cite me over the vague notion of "free will." If my brain chemistry and environment cause me to commit something unthinkable, they will still blame me.How do I cope? Initially, I couldn't. I had multiple severe panic attacks and mental breakdowns. I tried several therapists, but none of them worked, so I had to create my own solution. Now, I detach my mind from world stresses by interacting with street lights, going on Lighting-Gallery.net, and playing my favorite songs on the violin. At the end of the day, peer-reviewed studies point to us lacking full control over our brain chemistry and actions. Think about how little we actually know about the human brain. My advice is to stop viewing social and political issues through a binary lens of "good vs. evil" and address them through brain chemistry and evidence like a scientist would. Please share your thoughts and ideas. Thank you for hearing me out.
