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A good question to ask does the answer to any of these nebulous ill defined questions have any non socio-politcial consequences? If the answer is no, be very very dubious.



The concept of free will has tremendous implications for oursocio-policial world, such as in criminal justice or even taxation.


Not really. Presumably a criminal justice system ought to be designed to be effective at rehabilitating and deterring crime. That's a strictly empirical enterprise that needn't concern itself with abstract notions of free will.

The law could of course codify its own definition of free will, which it typically does, but again this need not be affected by outside notions.


Yes but what are the non socio-politcial consequences? There aren't any. Does it matter if a pilot flying a plane has free will or not? No not really.

That's a tell that using any particular answer to this question for policy is a bad idea.


And if the answer is yes, be very very suspicious!




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