What happened in the past when you were faced with a difficult decision, how much control did you feel you had over the outcome?
- I was in the driver’s seat the whole time, it was completely my choice.
- I had some influence, but things outside my control played a part.
- Looking back, it felt like I was on autopilot, my decision was a foregone conclusion.
- It’s hard to say for sure whether I was in control or not.
What is your current biggest challenge when it comes to understanding the concept of free will?
- Accepting that I may not have as much control as I like to think.
- Reconciling free will with the idea that my actions have predetermined consequences.
- I don’t find the concept of free will challenging. My choices are my own.
- I haven’t given it much thought, to be honest.
How prepared are you to accept that your choices might be influenced by factors beyond your conscious awareness?
- I’m open to that idea.
- It’s a bit unsettling, but I’m willing to consider it.
- I find that hard to believe. I’m very conscious of why I make the choices I do.
- I’m not sure. It’s a complex issue.
How comfortable are you with the idea that your “self” might not be a single, unified entity making choices but rather a collection of influences and experiences?
- It’s an interesting concept that makes me think about the nature of self.
- It’s a bit strange, but it makes sense to me.
- I’m not comfortable with that at all. It feels like I’m losing my sense of self.
- I need some time to wrap my head around that.
When you think about the choices you’ve made in life, what are you most concerned about?
- Whether I’ve made the “right” choices.
- Whether my choices were truly my own or influenced by external factors.
- I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on past choices.
- Whether I’ve learned from my mistakes.
What makes you most frustrated about the philosophical debate surrounding free will?
- The lack of a definitive answer.
- The implications for morality and personal responsibility.
- It’s not something that keeps me up at night.
- The potential for nihilism if free will doesn’t exist.
How do you determine your actions’ impact on your future each day?
- I carefully consider the potential outcomes of my decisions.
- I try to live in the moment and make the best choices I can, but I accept that I can’t control everything.
- I don’t overthink it. I trust my gut and let things unfold naturally.
- I plan and set goals, but I also leave room for flexibility and unexpected opportunities.
How often do you question whether your actions are truly a result of your own free will or if they are predetermined?
- Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
If you could wave a magic wand, what would the perfect understanding of free will look like?
- A clear and definitive answer that provides a sense of agency and responsibility.
- A nuanced perspective that acknowledges both internal and external influences on our choices.
- An understanding that empowers us to make positive choices despite the constraints of determinism.
- A world where free will isn’t even a question, because it’s so obvious we have it.
How do you feel about the role of unconscious desires and motivations in shaping our choices, as suggested in the text?
- It’s a complex and fascinating concept that I’m still exploring.
- I think it’s likely that our unconscious minds play a significant role in our decisions.
- I’m not sure I buy it. I feel like I’m generally aware of my motivations.
- I’m skeptical. It seems like a convenient way to explain away bad decisions.
A specific situation arises where you have the opportunity to act in a way that benefits you but might harm someone else, how do you react?
- I carefully weigh the potential consequences for everyone involved before making a decision.
- I try to find a solution that benefits everyone, but I ultimately prioritize my own well-being.
- I would never do anything to intentionally harm someone else, even if it meant sacrificing my own interests.
- It depends on the specific situation and the people involved.
What is the trickiest part about reconciling our desire for autonomy with the possibility that our choices are influenced by factors beyond our control?
- It requires us to confront our own biases and assumptions about how the world works.
- It challenges our sense of self and our place in the universe.
- It can lead to feelings of helplessness or insignificance.
- It forces us to grapple with the complex interplay of nature and nurture in shaping who we are.
What comes to mind when you think about the concept of “indifferent choice,” where decisions are made without any particular reason or cause?
- It seems illogical and counterintuitive. How can we make choices without any reasons behind them?
- It raises questions about the role of consciousness and rationality in decision-making.
- It suggests that our choices might be more random and unpredictable than we like to think.
- It’s intriguing. Maybe some of our choices aren’t as calculated as we believe.
What’s your favorite philosophical concept related to free will or determinism?
- Compatibilism, which tries to find a middle ground between free will and determinism.
- Existentialism, which emphasizes our freedom to create meaning in a seemingly meaningless world.
- I haven’t explored these concepts enough to have a favorite.
- I find them all equally interesting and challenging.
What’s your go-to book or podcast that makes you think differently about the nature of choice and free will?
- Sam Harris’s book Free Will
- The Partially Examined Life podcast episode on Determinism
- I don’t have a go-to, but I’m always open to recommendations!
- I get my philosophy from other sources like movies and conversations with friends.
What is your absolute favorite example from pop culture that illustrates the struggle between free will and determinism?
- The Matrix
- The film Arrival
- Westworld
- Oedipus Rex
How would your friends and family describe your stance on free will?
- A staunch defender of free will.
- Someone who believes in a mix of free will and determinism.
- A pragmatist who focuses on making the best of whatever situation they’re in.
- They probably don’t know! I don’t talk about this stuff much.
Tell us a little about your understanding of how factors like upbringing, social conditioning, and personal experiences shape our beliefs about free will.
- I think they play a huge role. Our beliefs are shaped by our life experiences.
- I acknowledge their influence but believe we can still transcend those influences to make free choices.
- It’s hard to say how much they influence us, as everyone is different.
- I’m still learning about these concepts.
If you could choose any philosophical school of thought to align with your personal beliefs about free will, which one would you choose and why?
- Stoicism – it emphasizes focusing on what we can control and accepting what we cannot.
- Buddhism – it teaches about the illusion of self and the interconnectedness of all things.
- I’m not sure I subscribe to any one school of thought. I like to take bits and pieces from different perspectives.
- I need more information before I can choose!
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone says the words “free will”?
- Choice
- Responsibility
- Illusion
- Possibility
What’s your idea of a world where free will doesn’t exist?
- A deterministic dystopia where everyone’s lives are predetermined and meaningless.
- A world where compassion and understanding are paramount, as we recognize that we are all products of our circumstances.
- I can’t imagine such a world!
- It probably wouldn’t look that different from the world we live in now.
What is your strongest argument for or against the existence of free will?
- If our choices are not truly our own, then what is the point of morality, responsibility, or striving for anything at all?
- The sheer complexity of the human brain and the unpredictable nature of consciousness suggest that free will is a real possibility.
- The more we learn about neuroscience and psychology, the more it seems like our actions are determined by factors beyond our control.
- I don’t think I know enough to make a strong argument either way.
How do you handle the idea that your “ego,” or the sense of self that makes choices, might be an illusion?
- With curiosity! If the ego is an illusion, then what’s really in control?
- With a sense of liberation. If the ego is an illusion, then perhaps we can find true freedom by letting go of our attachment to it.
- It’s a difficult concept for me to grasp. I need to explore it more deeply.
- It doesn’t really bother me either way.
How would you describe your relationship to the concept of free will?
- It’s something I think about often and continue to grapple with.
- I have a general understanding of the different arguments but don’t obsess over it.
- I’m just starting to learn about it.
- It’s not something I’ve given much thought to.
Are you stuck in the cycle of trying to reconcile the existence of free will with the idea of determinism?
- Yes, I find myself going back and forth on this issue all the time.
- Sometimes, but I try to focus on living my life rather than getting bogged down in philosophical debates.
- Not really. I’ve come to a place of acceptance about the unknown.
- I don’t find it to be a struggle.
What would you say are your top struggles right now when it comes to grappling with the implications of Dewey’s ideas?
- Accepting that I might not have as much control over my choices as I thought.
- Figuring out how to live a meaningful life if free will is an illusion.
- I haven’t given Dewey’s ideas that much thought.
- I don’t know if I understand Dewey’s ideas well enough to find them to be a struggle.
What is your personal philosophy goal when it comes to understanding the complexities of free will and determinism?
- To arrive at a definitive answer that provides a sense of closure.
- To find a perspective that allows me to live a meaningful and fulfilling life, regardless of the answer.
- To keep an open mind and continue learning about this fascinating topic.
- To not think about it too much and simply enjoy the ride.
What do you think is missing in your quest to fully grasp the implications of free will or its absence on your daily life?
- More exposure to different philosophical and scientific perspectives.
- Deeper self-reflection and introspection.
- A willingness to challenge my own assumptions.
- Perhaps free will is just a simple concept that I am making more complicated than it needs to be.
What is your current level of expertise in the philosophical arguments surrounding free will and determinism?
- I’ve read extensively on the topic and feel confident in my understanding.
- I have a basic understanding and can follow the arguments.
- I’m just starting to scratch the surface.
- I’m not familiar with the philosophical debate at all.
You are at a party and someone brings up the topic of free will, what do you do?
- Jump into the conversation enthusiastically! I love a good philosophical debate.
- Listen politely but keep my thoughts to myself. It’s not the time or place.
- Steer the conversation to something a bit lighter. No one wants to talk about philosophy at a party!
- Excuse myself to get another drink. I’m out of my depth on this topic.
A scenario arises where you have to make a difficult decision with significant consequences. How confident are you in your ability to make the “right” choice, considering the factors discussed in the text?
- I’m confident that I can make the best choice I can with the information I have available.
- I trust my gut instinct, but I also acknowledge that I could be wrong.
- It’s daunting! I’d probably overthink it and stress myself out.
- I’m not sure there is a “right” choice. Just different options with different outcomes.
What descriptive word do you experience most when contemplating the limits of free will?
- Curiosity
- Anxiety
- Excitement
- Indifference
Which of the following do you notice yourself worrying about on a day-to-day basis: Whether you’re making the most of your freedom? The possibility that your choices don’t matter? Finding ways to exert more control over your destiny?
- Whether I’m making the most of my freedom.
- The possibility that my choices don’t matter.
- Finding ways to exert more control over my destiny.
- None of the above
How free and empowered do you feel in your everyday life?
- Very free and empowered. I am the master of my destiny!
- Relatively free, but I acknowledge that there are limits to my control.
- Somewhat restricted. I often feel like I’m at the mercy of circumstances.
- It varies depending on the day!
How well do you balance acknowledging the potential influence of external factors on your choices with maintaining a sense of personal agency?
- It’s a tightrope walk, but I think I do a pretty good job of it.
- I’m still working on finding that balance.
- It’s not something I’ve consciously thought about.
- I tend to err on the side of personal responsibility. I believe I have more control than the text might suggest.
How connected do you feel to the idea that your actions contribute to a chain of cause and effect, even if you can’t control all the outcomes?
- Very connected. I see the ripple effects of my choices everywhere.
- Somewhat connected. I understand the concept, but it’s not something I dwell on.
- Not very connected. I feel like my actions are often insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
- I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Which of the following is most likely to frustrate you? The idea that your choices are predetermined. The responsibility that comes with truly free will. The ambiguity of not knowing for sure.
- The idea that my choices are predetermined.
- The responsibility that comes with truly free will.
- The ambiguity of not knowing for sure.
Do you struggle more with accepting the possibility of a predetermined life or the weight of responsibility that comes with true freedom of choice?
- The possibility of a predetermined life
- The weight of responsibility that comes with true freedom of choice
- I struggle with both equally.
- I don’t struggle with either.
Do you have a trusted friend or mentor with whom you discuss these philosophical dilemmas, such as the nature of free will and its implications for your life?
- Yes, I have someone I can talk to about these things.
- Not really. It’s hard to find people who are interested in these topics.
- I prefer to contemplate these questions on my own.
- These topics don’t come up in my usual conversations.