Scientist claims that humans have ‘no free will’ after decades of research
Human beings are fascinating creatures and one of the oldest philosophical debates is over whether people truly have free will or not. For millennia, scientists have debated over whether free will is simply an illusion of the mind and is a concept that doesn’t even exist, or, if our species naturally possess it. Some experts, such as the philosopher Bernardo Kastrup, argue that we do have free will. He defined it as existing “if our choices are determined by that which we experientially identify with”. Kastrup claimed that his “tastes and preferences” are “consciously felt by” him, thus the choices he makes are “determined by these felt tastes and preferences”. Essentially, Kastrup argues, we are able to choose what action to perform and this gives humans a level of free will. On the other hand, neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky from Stanford University believes humans don’t have any free will, after studying the subject for “decades”. In his book Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will, Sapolsky argues that almost all of our behaviour as humans is beyond our own conscious control. He argued: “The world is really screwed up and made much, much more unfair by the fact that we reward people and punish people for things they have no control over. “We’ve got no free will. Stop attributing stuff to us that isn’t there.” Sapolsky believes that behaviour that we believe originates from free will is actually related to your environment, body, upbringing and genes. Speaking on the CultureLab podcast by New Scientist, Sapolsky explained: “In terms of my orientation, my basic approach is you look at a behaviour and someone has just done something that’s wonderful or awful or ambiguously in-between or in the eyes of the beholder, but some behaviour has happened, and you ask, 'Why did that occur?' and you’re asking a whole hierarchy of questions.” He continued explaining that the prompts to our behaviour could include, “which neurons did what, 10 milliseconds before” and may even originate from “this morning’s hormone levels” and the impact this has on your sensitivity levels in the brain. Additionally, behaviour, he argues can determined by prior trauma and even go back to the “childhood and foetal environment” and our individual genes. To summarise, he argued: “If you’re talking about genes, by definition, genes and behaviour, by definition, you’re talking about evolution and you’re talking about neurobiology and genetic variance and neuronal function. “If you’re talking about, you know, early trauma in life, you’re talking about epigenetics and you’re talking about adult propensity. “So, they’re all one continuous seam of influences, and when you look at it that way, there’s not a damn crack anywhere in there to shoehorn in a notion of free will.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-10-31 23:29
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Rhod Gilbert fans enjoy ‘beautiful moment’ as comedian rings bell to mark end of cancer treatment
Comedian Rhod Gilbert shared an emotional moment with viewers this week after revealing that he had rung the bell signifying the end of his cancer treatment. In a tearful video, the Welshman told a gathering of friends and family: “You’ve got me through.” He then rang the bell at the hospital where he had been receiving treatment in Cardiff, addressing nurses and doctors by saying: “I’m ringing that bell to say thanks to you.” Gilbert first revealed he had stage four head and neck cancer in July 2022, and has been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy over the last year. However, he recently received his first clear cancer scan since undergoing treatment at the Velindre Cancer Centre. The clip was from his documentary A Pain in the Neck, which spans the year between receiving his diagnosis and getting the all-clear. A tearful Gilbert said people had been “bringing me meals and giving me lifts [to hospital] every day” and “making me creams for my neck”. The side effects from chemotherapy and radiotherapy are especially brutal when cancer strikes in the head and neck. Gilbert’s entire mouth and throat became covered in ulcers, making it impossible to swallow or keep food down because of nausea. At one point, the comedian was hospitalised because he was unable to eat, and he lost two stone during the treatment. “When I got cancer, to be honest, I was terrified. So I wanted to do something to take my mind off it, make the whole thing feel less scary, and maybe help other people, too. “So I decided to film it all. I really hope that my story gives you a little hope.” Fans on social media were quick to praise Gilbert for his candour in making the show. One called the end of his treatment a “beautiful moment”. Another person said: “Watched your show tonight and I’m so happy you’ve got through this. “I was in the Heath hospital sat behind you and you looked so sad, so I handed you my good luck angel with peace written on it. This is such good news.” And one other added: “My heart fell when I saw Rhod Gilbert was trending, so happy to see it’s because he had finished his cancer treatment.” While laughs were in short supply during the year of filming, the comedian managed to fit in a couple of quips. In Gilbert’s first chemo session, the nurse warned him about side effects, saying that he must use protection if he is sexually active. Gilbert responded: “I’ve got one tonsil, no teeth, a f***ing feeding bag in my stomach and I’m on chemotherapy – the last thing I’m thinking of is going home for a shag.” He had been a patron of the Velindre Cancer Centre for a decade before getting his diagnosis. He said: “All those 10 years as a patron. I’ve heard time and time again how this place is incredible, and how people who work here are bloody angels. “I’ve heard it so many times, and I never thought I’d experience it myself, but I have. And this place has got me through.” How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Sign up to our free indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-10-31 18:54
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