Thursday, April 17, 2008

Philosophy ain't her strong suit

but then again, Megan probably thinks she's talking about cog sci.

Students who have been exposed to the idea that free will is a cognitive illusion are more likely to cheat. No word on whether proctors who have been exposed to this notion are less likely to turn them in. Luckily, most of us were programmed, at the moment of the big bang, to ignore people who tell us that free will is an illusion.
Bad joke, bad science, horrible philosophy. I could get all Nietzsche this and Kant that, but it'd be kinda boring. But, to paraphrase Nietzsche, free will stands in the way of freedom. Free will is what makes sin "real", and it only exists in a societal context, mostly in Christianized ones, at that. The illusions of choice and dominance of consciousness are two of the most fundamental errors made by western man, and Megan's pride keeps her very attached to them. Then again, I'd be surprised if she's at all literate in philosophy from later than, say, the turn of the 1800s. (And no, Rand and cog sci don't count.)
Ok, I guess that was a bit of a Nietzschean rant. It could have been much, much longer, tho. (And more convincing.)

Also, I really am going to post about that bloggingheads bit, but I'm still only about 20 mins in. It is painful. Thers has the right take on the whole fecking format.

1 comment:

Matt said...

"Luckily, most of us were programmed, at the moment of the big bang,..."

I do not think those words mean what you think they mean...