I think that ideas are not very clearly presented here, and I become a bit confused. I will try to explain what I understood from the article followed by some comments.
1. It is possible that we have no free will. That our minds try to interpret our actions, but have no control over our body’s action.
2. Some people believe that if they have no control over their physical actions, there would be no need to use our mind to determine right or wrong—because that information cannot “go backwards” to the brain that controls physical actions.
3. When people choose not to explore the possibility we might lack free will, this is called an “unimportant possibility”
4. In this situation, it doesn’t matter if the mind explores right or wrong, fact or fiction, but it does matter what the brain believes and the actions the body takes.
5. Conversations happen between brains by the use of bodies, so brains should use their bodies to spread knowledge about what is correct and incorrect, what is fact and fiction.
-- Unfortunately, in this case, it still does not matter what the mind thinks or believes. It is the brain engaging in communication, not the mind. So the mind considering right or wrong has no effect on this. There being no free will, brains cannot choose (or not choose) to share information, they are merely compelled by stimulus.
But, regardless of this, we have evidence showing that belief in free will increases goal directed behavior, self reported satisfaction, and so on.
If free will is false, then no amount of arguing will change it, because everything was set in motion long before you were ever born, and you are not free to change them. However, deterministically telling people they have free will will make them feel better and perform better. So, deterministically, promoting belief in free will is important.
If, however, free will is true, then telling people that it isn’t is robbing them of an essential agency. You are creating harm. If free will is true, and you tell people that it is, then you’re empowering them with the truth—allowing them to make better choices and to improve themselves. Therefore, under free will, promoting belief in free will is important.
To put it plainly: Belief in determinism is an info hazard.
I think that ideas are not very clearly presented here, and I become a bit confused. I will try to explain what I understood from the article followed by some comments.
1. It is possible that we have no free will. That our minds try to interpret our actions, but have no control over our body’s action.
2. Some people believe that if they have no control over their physical actions, there would be no need to use our mind to determine right or wrong—because that information cannot “go backwards” to the brain that controls physical actions.
3. When people choose not to explore the possibility we might lack free will, this is called an “unimportant possibility”
4. In this situation, it doesn’t matter if the mind explores right or wrong, fact or fiction, but it does matter what the brain believes and the actions the body takes.
5. Conversations happen between brains by the use of bodies, so brains should use their bodies to spread knowledge about what is correct and incorrect, what is fact and fiction.
-- Unfortunately, in this case, it still does not matter what the mind thinks or believes. It is the brain engaging in communication, not the mind. So the mind considering right or wrong has no effect on this. There being no free will, brains cannot choose (or not choose) to share information, they are merely compelled by stimulus.
But, regardless of this, we have evidence showing that belief in free will increases goal directed behavior, self reported satisfaction, and so on.
If free will is false, then no amount of arguing will change it, because everything was set in motion long before you were ever born, and you are not free to change them. However, deterministically telling people they have free will will make them feel better and perform better. So, deterministically, promoting belief in free will is important.
If, however, free will is true, then telling people that it isn’t is robbing them of an essential agency. You are creating harm. If free will is true, and you tell people that it is, then you’re empowering them with the truth—allowing them to make better choices and to improve themselves. Therefore, under free will, promoting belief in free will is important.
To put it plainly: Belief in determinism is an info hazard.