Why does believing in free will matter? | Stuart Lantz | TEDxQuestU

okay I’m going to talk to you today

okay I’m going to talk to you today about the benefits of believing in free

about the benefits of believing in free

about the benefits of believing in free will in that we have the ability to

will in that we have the ability to

will in that we have the ability to choose where to place our attention I

choose where to place our attention I

choose where to place our attention I use very similar reasoning to Pascal’s

use very similar reasoning to Pascal’s

use very similar reasoning to Pascal’s wager with Pascal was a French

wager with Pascal was a French

wager with Pascal was a French philosopher a mathematician from the

philosopher a mathematician from the

philosopher a mathematician from the 17th century he argued that if we

17th century he argued that if we

17th century he argued that if we believe in God we stand to gain if it

believe in God we stand to gain if it

believe in God we stand to gain if it turns out that God doesn’t exist we

turns out that God doesn’t exist we

turns out that God doesn’t exist we haven’t lost anything but if we choose

haven’t lost anything but if we choose

haven’t lost anything but if we choose not to believe in God it does exist and

not to believe in God it does exist and

not to believe in God it does exist and we stand to lose today I argue that by

we stand to lose today I argue that by

we stand to lose today I argue that by believing in free will we stand to gain

believing in free will we stand to gain

believing in free will we stand to gain the lives we each desire individually

the lives we each desire individually

the lives we each desire individually and collectively in our own way I will

and collectively in our own way I will

and collectively in our own way I will try to show what we are responsible for

try to show what we are responsible for

try to show what we are responsible for what we’re not responsible for and why

what we’re not responsible for and why

what we’re not responsible for and why we can still say that we’re free in a

we can still say that we’re free in a

we can still say that we’re free in a world where we clearly don’t control

world where we clearly don’t control

world where we clearly don’t control anything

anything

anything if life is a river and each human being

if life is a river and each human being

if life is a river and each human being is new in their own canoe on that river

is new in their own canoe on that river

is new in their own canoe on that river then we can’t control whether or not we

then we can’t control whether or not we

then we can’t control whether or not we hit records what we might be able to

hit records what we might be able to

hit records what we might be able to affect how and where we hit those Rapids

affect how and where we hit those Rapids

affect how and where we hit those Rapids if we paddle let’s begin by observing

if we paddle let’s begin by observing

if we paddle let’s begin by observing that human beings create things we

that human beings create things we

that human beings create things we create tools and technology we create

create tools and technology we create

create tools and technology we create relationship

relationship

relationship between people and organizations and

between people and organizations and

between people and organizations and governments we create art and knowledge

governments we create art and knowledge

governments we create art and knowledge oppression and justice peace and war

oppression and justice peace and war

oppression and justice peace and war happiness and suffering even though one

happiness and suffering even though one

happiness and suffering even though one individual human being is quite negative

individual human being is quite negative

individual human being is quite negative humanity is capable of creating quite a

humanity is capable of creating quite a

humanity is capable of creating quite a bit we have given history

bit we have given history

bit we have given history so what is it that controls what we

so what is it that controls what we

so what is it that controls what we create or what our behavior and

create or what our behavior and

create or what our behavior and therefore what we have not created

therefore what we have not created

therefore what we have not created here’s a lot of evidence a lot of

here’s a lot of evidence a lot of

here’s a lot of evidence a lot of research suggesting that there are

research suggesting that there are

research suggesting that there are biological factors in fact there’s a lot

biological factors in fact there’s a lot

biological factors in fact there’s a lot of research suggesting that there are at

of research suggesting that there are at

of research suggesting that there are at least sociological and psychological and

least sociological and psychological and

least sociological and psychological and environmental factors as well these are

environmental factors as well these are

environmental factors as well these are we free will and does that matter if it

we free will and does that matter if it

we free will and does that matter if it was I might discuss the Western

was I might discuss the Western

was I might discuss the Western philosophical tradition from the ancient

philosophical tradition from the ancient

philosophical tradition from the ancient Greeks view Heidegger or I might discuss

Greeks view Heidegger or I might discuss

Greeks view Heidegger or I might discuss the Western psychological tradition from

the Western psychological tradition from

the Western psychological tradition from Freud to Adler Frankel and behaviorism

Freud to Adler Frankel and behaviorism

Freud to Adler Frankel and behaviorism if we got to the end of either of those

if we got to the end of either of those

if we got to the end of either of those discussions we would have to conclude

discussions we would have to conclude

discussions we would have to conclude that it’s not clear whether were for

that it’s not clear whether were for

that it’s not clear whether were for your determinant the topic of this talk

your determinant the topic of this talk

your determinant the topic of this talk and what I can tell you for sure is that

and what I can tell you for sure is that

and what I can tell you for sure is that it behooves us to believe that we are if

it behooves us to believe that we are if

it behooves us to believe that we are if it turns out that the nature of being

it turns out that the nature of being

it turns out that the nature of being human

human

human is that we’re determined when we aim to

is that we’re determined when we aim to

is that we’re determined when we aim to make choices

make choices

make choices nature will limit us before we become

nature will limit us before we become

nature will limit us before we become there’s nothing this also means that

there’s nothing this also means that

there’s nothing this also means that we’re not responsible for our

we’re not responsible for our

we’re not responsible for our circumstances we’re not responsible for

circumstances we’re not responsible for

circumstances we’re not responsible for what we create there’s absolutely

what we create there’s absolutely

what we create there’s absolutely nothing

nothing

nothing do about IVFs things which is so long to

do about IVFs things which is so long to

do about IVFs things which is so long to the right this is like saying that

the right this is like saying that

the right this is like saying that although we noticed ourselves paddling

although we noticed ourselves paddling

although we noticed ourselves paddling the paddling doesn’t make any difference

the paddling doesn’t make any difference

the paddling doesn’t make any difference as to how or where we hit the rapids but

as to how or where we hit the rapids but

as to how or where we hit the rapids but I say we have everything to gain by that

I say we have everything to gain by that

I say we have everything to gain by that we’re free will because although a human

we’re free will because although a human

we’re free will because although a human being has finite power that power can be

being has finite power that power can be

being has finite power that power can be applied to any of the circumstances that

applied to any of the circumstances that

applied to any of the circumstances that human finds themselves in and we must

human finds themselves in and we must

human finds themselves in and we must find ourselves responsible for our part

find ourselves responsible for our part

find ourselves responsible for our part in every aspect of our circumstances

in every aspect of our circumstances

in every aspect of our circumstances right here I want to be careful about

right here I want to be careful about

right here I want to be careful about two things the first one is what I mean

two things the first one is what I mean

two things the first one is what I mean by responsibility and the second one is

by responsibility and the second one is

by responsibility and the second one is what I think I very well my

what I think I very well my

what I think I very well my responsibility I mean the ability to

responsibility I mean the ability to

responsibility I mean the ability to respond in the future I’ve often heard

respond in the future I’ve often heard

respond in the future I’ve often heard responsibility equated with blame as

responsibility equated with blame as

responsibility equated with blame as someone looks back at their life and

someone looks back at their life and

someone looks back at their life and tries to account for the positive

tries to account for the positive

tries to account for the positive circumstances if a group of people a day

circumstances if a group of people a day

circumstances if a group of people a day long hike find that their lunches aren’t

long hike find that their lunches aren’t

long hike find that their lunches aren’t with them at lunch time they might try

with them at lunch time they might try

with them at lunch time they might try to figure out who is responsible did

to figure out who is responsible did

to figure out who is responsible did someone leave the launches did some take

someone leave the launches did some take

someone leave the launches did some take the lunches in other words they’re

the lunches in other words they’re

the lunches in other words they’re looking for someone to blame for their

looking for someone to blame for their

looking for someone to blame for their circumstances when I talked about

circumstances when I talked about

circumstances when I talked about responsibility I’m talking about the

responsibility I’m talking about the

responsibility I’m talking about the fact that each of those people have an

fact that each of those people have an

fact that each of those people have an ability to respond to those

ability to respond to those

ability to respond to those circumstances they could look for

circumstances they could look for

circumstances they could look for someplace

someplace

someplace they can also look for something to eat

they can also look for something to eat

they can also look for something to eat and they can remember that although very

and they can remember that although very

and they can remember that although very uncomfortable they won’t die from lack

uncomfortable they won’t die from lack

uncomfortable they won’t die from lack of food by free well I mean the ability

of food by free well I mean the ability

of food by free well I mean the ability to change one’s own mind that is the

to change one’s own mind that is the

to change one’s own mind that is the ability to choose the mental stance that

ability to choose the mental stance that

ability to choose the mental stance that or attitude do we take towards our

or attitude do we take towards our

or attitude do we take towards our circumstances and do not mean strong

circumstances and do not mean strong

circumstances and do not mean strong very strong very well means power over

very strong very well means power over

very strong very well means power over circumstances like the ability to change

circumstances like the ability to change

circumstances like the ability to change the temperature it will to make lunch

the temperature it will to make lunch

the temperature it will to make lunch appear out of thin air or to change your

appear out of thin air or to change your

appear out of thin air or to change your room to happiness just because you want

room to happiness just because you want

room to happiness just because you want to buy a free will anymore Victor Frank

to buy a free will anymore Victor Frank

to buy a free will anymore Victor Frank limit which is to say that the one day

limit which is to say that the one day

limit which is to say that the one day that can never be taken away from us

that can never be taken away from us

that can never be taken away from us because it is part of our very being is

because it is part of our very being is

because it is part of our very being is our ability to choose our mental stance

our ability to choose our mental stance

our ability to choose our mental stance towards our circumstances free well has

towards our circumstances free well has

towards our circumstances free well has its foundation in our ability to choose

its foundation in our ability to choose

its foundation in our ability to choose our attitude now again I want to be very

our attitude now again I want to be very

our attitude now again I want to be very clear that we cannot control

clear that we cannot control

clear that we cannot control circumstances inner conditions like

circumstances inner conditions like

circumstances inner conditions like emotions might not seem like

emotions might not seem like

emotions might not seem like circumstances but in this case they fit

circumstances but in this case they fit

circumstances but in this case they fit the description if we see something that

the description if we see something that

the description if we see something that appears disgusting we can’t just will

appears disgusting we can’t just will

appears disgusting we can’t just will ourselves to feel that it is delicious

ourselves to feel that it is delicious

ourselves to feel that it is delicious it’s absurd it may be that you find the

it’s absurd it may be that you find the

it’s absurd it may be that you find the idea our peanut butter pickle mayonnaise

idea our peanut butter pickle mayonnaise

idea our peanut butter pickle mayonnaise sandwich

sandwich

sandwich you wouldn’t be alone if the countenance

you wouldn’t be alone if the countenance

you wouldn’t be alone if the countenance of your consciousness distracted was

of your consciousness distracted was

of your consciousness distracted was repulsive they do so for a reason for

repulsive they do so for a reason for

repulsive they do so for a reason for many of us here maybe if it were not in

many of us here maybe if it were not in

many of us here maybe if it were not in the habit of combining peanut butter

the habit of combining peanut butter

the habit of combining peanut butter pickles of mayonnaise interest anguish

pickles of mayonnaise interest anguish

pickles of mayonnaise interest anguish from an evolutionary perspective an

from an evolutionary perspective an

from an evolutionary perspective an organism that has a disgust reaction to

organism that has a disgust reaction to

organism that has a disgust reaction to new foods is less likely to ingest a

new foods is less likely to ingest a

new foods is less likely to ingest a lethal amount of something that’s gone

lethal amount of something that’s gone

lethal amount of something that’s gone back or simply wrong as the case may be

back or simply wrong as the case may be

back or simply wrong as the case may be with a peanut butter pickle mayonnaise

with a peanut butter pickle mayonnaise

with a peanut butter pickle mayonnaise sandwich what we have the power to do

sandwich what we have the power to do

sandwich what we have the power to do choose where to place our attention if

choose where to place our attention if

choose where to place our attention if you try the sandwich you can focus on

you try the sandwich you can focus on

you try the sandwich you can focus on the actual experience only your control

the actual experience only your control

the actual experience only your control is on the disgust reaction you had prior

is on the disgust reaction you had prior

is on the disgust reaction you had prior to the experience if you like sweet and

to the experience if you like sweet and

to the experience if you like sweet and sour chicken I can almost guarantee that

sour chicken I can almost guarantee that

sour chicken I can almost guarantee that a peanut butter pickle many the sandwich

a peanut butter pickle many the sandwich

a peanut butter pickle many the sandwich isn’t as bad as it sounds

let me give you a more tangible example

let me give you a more tangible example very well when I began high school like

very well when I began high school like

very well when I began high school like this specific belief you could say my

this specific belief you could say my

this specific belief you could say my attention was fixated on a specific way

attention was fixated on a specific way

attention was fixated on a specific way of interpreting my experiences I

of interpreting my experiences I

of interpreting my experiences I believed that I had picked one school

believed that I had picked one school

believed that I had picked one school and stick with it for four years to

and stick with it for four years to

and stick with it for four years to complete high school turns out the

complete high school turns out the

complete high school turns out the school that I was at I was pretty

school that I was at I was pretty

school that I was at I was pretty unhappy and my family tried to convince

unhappy and my family tried to convince

unhappy and my family tried to convince me that I didn’t have to stay there but

me that I didn’t have to stay there but

me that I didn’t have to stay there but I refused to change my mind that is the

I refused to change my mind that is the

I refused to change my mind that is the state of free will I was used to change

state of free will I was used to change

state of free will I was used to change my life there was nothing they could do

my life there was nothing they could do

my life there was nothing they could do about that they could have forced me to

about that they could have forced me to

about that they could have forced me to go to another school but without my

go to another school but without my

go to another school but without my participation my mind wasn’t going to

participation my mind wasn’t going to

participation my mind wasn’t going to change this was like saying that for

change this was like saying that for

change this was like saying that for some reason I believed that I had to run

some reason I believed that I had to run

some reason I believed that I had to run the river only on the right side to get

the river only on the right side to get

the river only on the right side to get downstream if I strayed over at the left

downstream if I strayed over at the left

downstream if I strayed over at the left I would get there my family could have

I would get there my family could have

I would get there my family could have used their boats to shut my boat over to

used their boats to shut my boat over to

used their boats to shut my boat over to the left but I still would have believed

the left but I still would have believed

the left but I still would have believed that I had to be on the right somewhere

that I had to be on the right somewhere

that I had to be on the right somewhere in my second year I had enough and I

in my second year I had enough and I

in my second year I had enough and I changed my mind down I decided that just

changed my mind down I decided that just

changed my mind down I decided that just because I value

because I value

because I value Maxwell didn’t mean I have to stay at

Maxwell didn’t mean I have to stay at

Maxwell didn’t mean I have to stay at one school for four years and the next

one school for four years and the next

one school for four years and the next two years were completely different

two years were completely different

two years were completely different experience and yes it was because of

experience and yes it was because of

experience and yes it was because of where I was and who I was with and what

where I was and who I was with and what

where I was and who I was with and what we were doing and none of those things

we were doing and none of those things

we were doing and none of those things would have been a part of my experience

would have been a part of my experience

would have been a part of my experience had enough first chance my mind again my

had enough first chance my mind again my

had enough first chance my mind again my folks could have forced me to go to that

folks could have forced me to go to that

folks could have forced me to go to that new school without my participation but

new school without my participation but

new school without my participation but without my participation my mind never

without my participation my mind never

without my participation my mind never would have changed and because I was the

would have changed and because I was the

would have changed and because I was the one that made the choice I actually had

one that made the choice I actually had

one that made the choice I actually had to change my attitude before I can move

to change my attitude before I can move

to change my attitude before I can move ahead with that decision in this way my

ahead with that decision in this way my

ahead with that decision in this way my – that made a whole new experience

– that made a whole new experience

– that made a whole new experience possible even though I wasn’t in control

possible even though I wasn’t in control

possible even though I wasn’t in control of my circumstances they were a part of

of my circumstances they were a part of

of my circumstances they were a part of my experience because I had changed my

my experience because I had changed my

my experience because I had changed my mind

if life is a game then the rule that we

if life is a game then the rule that we might be free will and nobody told us

might be free will and nobody told us

might be free will and nobody told us paddling might matter but nobody knows

paddling might matter but nobody knows

paddling might matter but nobody knows for sure it’s possible that each

for sure it’s possible that each

for sure it’s possible that each individual is ultimately the only one

individual is ultimately the only one

individual is ultimately the only one who has control over their act and

who has control over their act and

who has control over their act and whatever attitude we choose is the

whatever attitude we choose is the

whatever attitude we choose is the foundation of the experiences could

foundation of the experiences could

foundation of the experiences could create Sophia the idealistic because

create Sophia the idealistic because

create Sophia the idealistic because what you got to lose

what you got to lose

what you got to lose now I know of no way of proving to you

now I know of no way of proving to you

now I know of no way of proving to you or myself there were three girls but I

or myself there were three girls but I

or myself there were three girls but I know of no way of proving that we’re not

know of no way of proving that we’re not

know of no way of proving that we’re not what I can say is that if we are I

what I can say is that if we are I

what I can say is that if we are I possess the potential

possess the potential

possess the potential to change my attitude even if it’s

to change my attitude even if it’s

to change my attitude even if it’s really difficult I can also say that no

really difficult I can also say that no

really difficult I can also say that no one else can do it for me no one else

one else can do it for me no one else

one else can do it for me no one else can tackle a goal for me I will leave

can tackle a goal for me I will leave

can tackle a goal for me I will leave you with this that no one will be able

you with this that no one will be able

you with this that no one will be able to tell you for sure whether or not your

to tell you for sure whether or not your

to tell you for sure whether or not your free will so live your life like an

free will so live your life like an

free will so live your life like an experiment do the opposite of what you

experiment do the opposite of what you

experiment do the opposite of what you would just because you can and make up

would just because you can and make up

would just because you can and make up your mind for yourself and remember not

your mind for yourself and remember not

your mind for yourself and remember not to doubt if it gets difficult please

to doubt if it gets difficult please

to doubt if it gets difficult please don’t think that because I argue that

don’t think that because I argue that

don’t think that because I argue that were three do I think that anyone’s life

were three do I think that anyone’s life

were three do I think that anyone’s life is easy or should be easier than it is

is easy or should be easier than it is

is easy or should be easier than it is taking responsibility for all aspects of

taking responsibility for all aspects of

taking responsibility for all aspects of a life is a very difficult thing for

a life is a very difficult thing for

a life is a very difficult thing for anyone to do but it frees us to write

anyone to do but it frees us to write

anyone to do but it frees us to write out a little eggs rights and hit fewer

out a little eggs rights and hit fewer

out a little eggs rights and hit fewer rocks because it means we are more

rocks because it means we are more

rocks because it means we are more likely to pay attention to the one

likely to pay attention to the one

likely to pay attention to the one aspect of our lives no one else can

aspect of our lives no one else can

aspect of our lives no one else can touch our attitudes and with the right

touch our attitudes and with the right

touch our attitudes and with the right attitude life can be experienced as

attitude life can be experienced as

attitude life can be experienced as right and good the desire to create this

right and good the desire to create this

right and good the desire to create this experience as a start but it’s not

experience as a start but it’s not

experience as a start but it’s not enough to be effective at creating a

enough to be effective at creating a

enough to be effective at creating a desirable experience we need the wisdom

desirable experience we need the wisdom

desirable experience we need the wisdom and the will we need the wisdom to

and the will we need the wisdom to

and the will we need the wisdom to understand how it may be done and we

understand how it may be done and we

understand how it may be done and we need the strength to do it just because

need the strength to do it just because

need the strength to do it just because I decide to ride a bicycle doesn’t mean

I decide to ride a bicycle doesn’t mean

I decide to ride a bicycle doesn’t mean that I know how I got strong enough but

that I know how I got strong enough but

that I know how I got strong enough but just because I lack strength to know

just because I lack strength to know

just because I lack strength to know and everywhere remember the difficulty

and everywhere remember the difficulty

and everywhere remember the difficulty is not proof that we’re not free well

is not proof that we’re not free well

is not proof that we’re not free well remember that the way the wisdom in the

remember that the way the wisdom in the

remember that the way the wisdom in the will are developed is by continuing to

will are developed is by continuing to

will are developed is by continuing to choose an open-minded a lack of instant

choose an open-minded a lack of instant

choose an open-minded a lack of instant gratification it was this attitude that

gratification it was this attitude that

gratification it was this attitude that created the lightbulb that crossed

created the lightbulb that crossed

created the lightbulb that crossed oceans that put Humanity in space and

oceans that put Humanity in space and

oceans that put Humanity in space and made possible all the accomplishments of

made possible all the accomplishments of

made possible all the accomplishments of our world today for better or for worse

our world today for better or for worse

our world today for better or for worse the potential that each human being

the potential that each human being

the potential that each human being lives with every instant of their lives

lives with every instant of their lives

lives with every instant of their lives is the ability to choose where to place

is the ability to choose where to place

is the ability to choose where to place their attention to influence their

their attention to influence their

their attention to influence their attitude free will affects attitude

attitude free will affects attitude

attitude free will affects attitude attitude impacts what we’re able to do

what we’re able to do impacts what we do

what we’re able to do impacts what we do to for and with each other in the world

to for and with each other in the world

to for and with each other in the world so I’m employed even though I can’t

so I’m employed even though I can’t

so I’m employed even though I can’t prove anything to you act like you’re

prove anything to you act like you’re

prove anything to you act like you’re free but learn as much as you can about

free but learn as much as you can about

free but learn as much as you can about our your attitude the belief with which

our your attitude the belief with which

our your attitude the belief with which you guide your experience affects you

you guide your experience affects you

you guide your experience affects you and those around you and together we

and those around you and together we

and those around you and together we will create an experience of life more

will create an experience of life more

will create an experience of life more worth

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]