In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing David Lawrence, author of the book "Are We Really Biochemical Robots?". David shared his insights on two fascinating topics that we all ponder from time to time, consciousness and free will. We also dove into the intersection of quantum physics on the free will debate.
Key Takeaways
- Free will doesn't have to be absolute, and it actually has limits and boundaries that are necessary for us to push against and make changes in our circumstances.
- Science has not proven that the world is determined, and the quantum science theories are split between deterministic and probabilistic, which allows for the possibility of free will.
- The double slit experiment in quantum physics shows that matter behaves like both a wave and a particle, which challenges our mechanical understanding of causation. This opens up the possibility of free will by saying that causation isn't the only game in town and it may not be the game at all.
Guest Website and Social Media Links
- David Lawrence's website: http://biochemicalrobots.com/
- David Lawrence on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BiochemicalRobots/
Timestamps
- 00:04:00: Not everything that influences us controls us.
- 00:10:30: There is a misconception that science has confirmed the world is determined.
- 00:21:14: The double slit experiment and quantum physics.
- 00:28:00: The concept of non-physical, non-local influence in quantum science.
