My Authors
Read all threads
Darwin had some very interesting ideas on free will:
This one seems to express the idea that the capacity for self-directedness is embodied in the physical configuration of the organism, by virtue of what its physical states mean
And that the meaning of any given state is given by the value assigned through interaction with its environment...
Which I think is exactly right. Value (whether a stimulus is good or bad) emerges through action - approach or avoidance - and the verdict of natural selection on whether that action favors persistence
I take this to be the basis for things having meaning and for organisms having real agency - doing things for their own reasons
However, if those reasons are embodied in the physical configuration of our brains, itself a result of evolution, development, and learning, then how much in control of those reasons are we?
Darwin had thoughts on this too, expressing the idea not just that hereditary instincts and dispositions constrain our choices at any given moment, but that their effects cascade over our lifetimes...
This seems right too and is a theme I explore in Innate press.princeton.edu/books/hardcove…
I don't however think that means we don't have free will - all of those configurations, all of that personal history - that IS YOU. Yes, they constrain your actions, but those constraints constitute your self.
If free will = self-directedness, then it is entirely dependent on those kinds of constraints. Free will is not doing things for no reason, but for your reasons.
Who's in charge? You or your brain? (Kevin Mitchell | TEDxTrinityCollegeDublin) ted.com/talks/kevin_mi… via @TEDTalks
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh.

Enjoying this thread?

Keep Current with Kevin Mitchell

Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime, convert it as a PDF, save and print for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video

1) Follow Thread Reader App on Twitter so you can easily mention us!

2) Go to a Twitter thread (series of Tweets by the same owner) and mention us with a keyword "unroll" @threadreaderapp unroll

You can practice here first or read more on our help page!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just three indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3.00/month or $30.00/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!