I tend to agree.
The human body and brain (which we were born with and had no choice in the matter) is a system that responds to stimuli. We are very similar in many respect so we tend to have similar responses and make similar choices. But we are also different and unique in other respects and as a result may at times end up making different decisions. Our choices are driven by our pursuit of of what we THINK will make us happy.
I think free will is an illusion.
But if that is so, then why do we feel we can hold people “responsible” for their choices and actions, if they had no control over their choices. And how do we then justify “punishing” someone for a “crime”?
“how do we then justify “punishing” someone for a “crime”?”
That one is easy.
All of us benefit if criminals are kept away from the rest of civilization—i.e., behind bars.
It does not matter “why” they do it—they should not be allowed to run loose causing havoc in civilized societies.
To add to my post—the reason why lions and tigers are kept in zoos instead of allowed to run loose down the street is not because they choose to be “bad” animals—it is because they do harmful things when they are loose.
We are not trying to rehabilitate them—we are just trying to protect human society.
:-)
We do respond to stimuli. The problem is an all-or-nothing kind of thinking, accepting the illusion that we are only the product of our environment.
I tend to agree, or at least think it's a far narrower stream to access than most people think.
But if that is so, then why do we feel we can hold people “responsible” for their choices and actions, if they had no control over their choices. And how do we then justify “punishing” someone for a “crime”?
Because even the pre-determinist believes that a person's behavior is a combination of nature and nurture, and punishment becomes part of the nurture. So even if someone is pre-determined to a certain behavior, learning that it will result in misery will become part of the data that guides their little internal flow chart. Also, we still must protect society from certain dangers, and that includes people or actions with a proven track record of destruction.