Free Will
write an three-page essay about Free Will, and choose only one from the three prompts(
While not always an explicit, central theme, present in all of our texts this session has been some aspect of free will; in Breakfast of Champions, Vonnegut describes many of his characters as being “machines” that are often victims of their “bad chemicals”; The Nightly News, Hickman shows us a world in which almost every character is, in some way or another, the victim of forces beyond their control.
Now, in Free Will, Sam Harris explores the concept directly with an argument that denounces the possibility of free will, backed by (arguably) logical and scientific evidence—essentially making the case that both nature and nurture compel us to think, and therefore act, in certain ways, and that we are largely dependent upon luck for our successes in life and even for the content of our character. Some would make the argument that if free will as we know it does not exist, then we are not responsible for our actions; we are merely badly programmed machines, poorly calibrated clocks.
For this assignment, I would like you to address one of the following prompts on free will, utilizing Harris’ text wherever possible, and doing outside research as well:
Prompt #1: If, as Harris argues, free will does not exist, is there a purpose to our existence? Are we fated by nature to act out our lives?
Prompt #2: Might a cultural rejection of the concept of free will lead to a more ethical society, or might it make it less so? (you can incorporate this into Prompt #3)
Prompt #3: How does this Harris’ argument hinder or help certain political issues such as same-sex marriage (sexuality), prison and incarceration (punishment), or obesity in the United States (health)?CLICK HERE TO GET MORE.........
Now, in Free Will, Sam Harris explores the concept directly with an argument that denounces the possibility of free will, backed by (arguably) logical and scientific evidence—essentially making the case that both nature and nurture compel us to think, and therefore act, in certain ways, and that we are largely dependent upon luck for our successes in life and even for the content of our character. Some would make the argument that if free will as we know it does not exist, then we are not responsible for our actions; we are merely badly programmed machines, poorly calibrated clocks.
For this assignment, I would like you to address one of the following prompts on free will, utilizing Harris’ text wherever possible, and doing outside research as well:
Prompt #1: If, as Harris argues, free will does not exist, is there a purpose to our existence? Are we fated by nature to act out our lives?
Prompt #2: Might a cultural rejection of the concept of free will lead to a more ethical society, or might it make it less so? (you can incorporate this into Prompt #3)
Prompt #3: How does this Harris’ argument hinder or help certain political issues such as same-sex marriage (sexuality), prison and incarceration (punishment), or obesity in the United States (health)?CLICK HERE TO GET MORE.........
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