2 ms·
It's important to society. If we don't have a lot of free will, then blaming work ethic or some morality thing for people being poor doesn't make a lot of sense
by bediger4000 3y ago
It's important to society. If we don't have a lot of free will, then blaming work ethic or some morality thing for people being poor doesn't make a lot of sense. That's just a simple example. There's lots of other consequences that make conventional opinions invalid.
- johnwheeler 3y agoSo, we’re saying it’s not the person’s fault when they do something bad. So what? Wouldn’t the threat of punishment factor into the outcome still; thus making punishment valid and valuable? I understand the logic behind not getting angry with people and considering them a “force of nature” as Harris says, but that seems somehow different than not holding people accountable for their actions-free will or not.
- bediger4000 3y agoHolding accountable is fine, but it does tend to be abused. I was thinking along the lines of overall harm reduction. Are a lot of people overweight? Telling them to exercise free will and eat less demonstrably doesn't work. Same with various addictions, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, gambling, consequences don't seem to have much effect.