There is no Free Will?

Robert Morris Sapolsky (born April 6, 1957) is an American academic, neuroscientist, and primatologist.

Below is a video where he an Neil deGrasse Tyson discuss free will. His stance is that Free Will does not exist. I agree yet I disagree. I don’t believe it is an either / or solution.

No Free Will Example

I am limited in many ways, and no amount of free will can overcome those limitations. For example, I am 58 years old, 5'6", and have never practiced basketball skills. Regardless of my desires or efforts, I will never be recruited for the WNBA. It simply isn’t a possibility. In such cases, free will appears nonexistent because external and inherent constraints define what can and cannot happen.

Free Will as a Co-Creator Example

I believe that free will exists, but not as an independent force. Instead, we have free will as co-creators, not singular creators. This perspective assumes a belief in God or a higher power. In this framework, we co-create with God, using our free will as our contribution to the process.

A universally understood example of this is the biblical story of Mary. When the angel told Mary she would have a child, she used her free will to say "yes," thereby participating in a divine act of co-creation. Her choice is highly revered in the Catholic Church as an act of profound free will. Sapolsky is saying that she did not use free will because her belief system (faithful Jew) required her to make the pre-determined choice of “yes” which is highly probable.

In our own lives, co-creation might look like encountering a miraculous opportunity. We can use our free will to seize the moment and walk through the metaphorical door, or we can choose not to. Free will, in this sense, is about responding to the opportunities life or God presents to us. Sapolsky would say you do not use free will in this case because your belief system requires you to make all decisions or choices a certain way. This is true.

Reconciling Perspectives

. It may be that the only free will we have is the choice to change a belief system.

This definition of free will as co-creation acknowledges that our will is not entirely independent. I agree with Sapolsky and other theorists that we do not have total free will. However, I disagree with the claim that free will does not exist at all. Instead, free will operates within a framework of external influences, allowing us to participate meaningfully in shaping our lives.

The Role of Changing Beliefs in Free Will

I disagree with the notion that free will is entirely absent because I know from experience that it can emerge when you change your unconscious and subconscious beliefs. Many of our beliefs originate in childhood and reside in the subconscious, silently directing our choices without our conscious awareness. However, these beliefs are not fixed; they can be transformed to align with our current age, wisdom, and understanding.

At Firm Water Road, we work to help people change the foundation of their choices through positive psychology, philosophy, and intentional effort. By reshaping your belief system, you expand the range of your free will. This process empowers you to make decisions from a place of clarity and alignment, rather than being driven by outdated subconscious programming.

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Below is the video explaining the absence of Free Will. Below the video is a written explaination. We introduce all of these philosophies in my burnout recovery company:

The argument against the existence of free will typically stems from philosophical, scientific, and theological perspectives.

Here are the main points:

Determinism

Determinism asserts that every event, including human thoughts and actions, is the result of prior causes. If the universe operates according to physical laws, then all events, including decisions, are pre-determined.

Key ideas include:

Causal Chain: Every decision is caused by prior events, such as genetics, environment, and experiences.

Neuroscience: Studies suggest that brain activity related to decision-making occurs before individuals become consciously aware of their choices, implying that decisions are made subconsciously.

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Neuroscientific Evidence

Research, such as Benjamin Libet's experiments, indicates that brain activity associated with decision-making precedes conscious awareness of the decision. This suggests that what we perceive as a "conscious choice" might merely be a rationalization of decisions made subconsciously.

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Illusion of Choice

Some argue that free will is an illusion, as external and internal factors (e.g., cultural norms, upbringing, and biological impulses) shape decisions. Even when choices appear voluntary, they may reflect conditioning rather than genuine freedom.

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Compatibilist Critique

Compatibilists argue that free will can coexist with determinism by redefining it as the ability to act according to one’s desires and intentions, even if those desires are determined. Critics counter that this does not constitute true free will but rather a constrained form of autonomy.

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Quantum Mechanics and Indeterminism

While quantum mechanics introduces randomness at a microscopic level, randomness itself does not equate to free will. If decisions are influenced by random quantum events, they still wouldn’t reflect conscious control.

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Theological Arguments

In religious contexts, some argue against free will by emphasizing divine omniscience or predestination. If a deity knows or determines all outcomes, then human actions cannot be genuinely free.

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Summary

The argument against free will contends that our actions are governed by deterministic laws, subconscious processes, and external influences, leaving no room for true autonomous choice. Whether or not free will exists remains one of the most debated questions in philosophy and science.

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