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There's a school of thought among physicists/philosophers called "eternalism" (also goes by "block universe") that posits that all the future is already "laid o

There's a school of thought among physicists/philosophers called "eternalism" (also goes by "block universe") that posits that all the future is already "laid out," so to speak, and that free will is an illusion. The idea is that the current state of the universe (and mind in our case) dictates the next state (deterministic or stochastic) and we really have to control over the process. Many physicists subscribe to this view (Albert Einstein is supposed to have been a proponent), and I'm increasingly becoming a believer myself. The upshot is that we should never regret/second-guess the past or worry about the future because we really have no control.

SketchySeaBeast 5y ago
That paints a veneer of effortlessness over everything that I don't much care for. Sure, we could in theory trace back our every impulse to some preceding energy or interaction, but it doesn't much help in the moment when you're trying to push hard to get done that last mile of your run. Even if the universe already knows if you're going to fail or not by the end of the run doesn't mean you do nor should you accept the easy result in the moment.
- derwiki 5y ago
  The universe knew you were going to think that and push yourself hard for the last mile
merpnderp 5y ago
The future has zero mass, thus has zero energy, thus most likely doesn't exist yet. It's a really long gamble to say that it does.
- SketchySeaBeast 5y ago
  Can't the same argument be made about the past? The measurement of mass and energy is very much a measure of the present.
CrazyStat 5y ago
Of course, if we really have no control then we also can't control whether we regret the past or worry about the future, so why bother telling anyone that they should not do it? But of course you had no control over whether you would tell anyone that, so I shouldn't question your decision. The whole notion of 'should' is absurd under such a philosophy.
WheelsAtLarge 5y ago
There's also determinism. I know that when I kick a ball it will go on a direction I want. Not always but most of the time and the more I do it the better I get. If it's an illusion, thats ok. I will live with it the rest of my life. It works for me.
- WheelsAtLarge 5y ago
  Oops, should have written free-will not determinism.

SketchySeaBeast 5y ago

That paints a veneer of effortlessness over everything that I don't much care for. Sure, we could in theory trace back our every impulse to some preceding energy or interaction, but it doesn't much help in the moment when you're trying to push hard to get done that last mile of your run. Even if the universe already knows if you're going to fail or not by the end of the run doesn't mean you do nor should you accept the easy result in the moment.

derwiki 5y ago
The universe knew you were going to think that and push yourself hard for the last mile

merpnderp 5y ago

The future has zero mass, thus has zero energy, thus most likely doesn't exist yet. It's a really long gamble to say that it does.

SketchySeaBeast 5y ago
Can't the same argument be made about the past? The measurement of mass and energy is very much a measure of the present.

CrazyStat 5y ago

Of course, if we really have no control then we also can't control whether we regret the past or worry about the future, so why bother telling anyone that they should not do it? But of course you had no control over whether you would tell anyone that, so I shouldn't question your decision. The whole notion of 'should' is absurd under such a philosophy.

WheelsAtLarge 5y ago

There's also determinism. I know that when I kick a ball it will go on a direction I want. Not always but most of the time and the more I do it the better I get. If it's an illusion, thats ok. I will live with it the rest of my life. It works for me.

WheelsAtLarge 5y ago
Oops, should have written free-will not determinism.