Dr. Rhonda Barofsky

my thing there, but I'm trying to concede some ground to you. I don't know if it'll be successful or not, Matt, that this would be saying that our freedom is not all or nothing, but is somewhere in between. And there are some things about us and our inclinations and things we can do and can't do.

my thing there, but I'm trying to concede some ground to you. I don't know if it'll be successful or not, Matt, that this would be saying that our freedom is not all or nothing, but is somewhere in between. And there are some things about us and our inclinations and things we can do and can't do.

I can't, for example, make the choice of floating up off my chair right now because I'm not a helium balloon. But I can make decisions about twisting the chair back and forth and, you know, make all kinds of free decisions. But other decisions I make may be more strongly influenced by things beyond my conscious awareness or control.

I can't, for example, make the choice of floating up off my chair right now because I'm not a helium balloon. But I can make decisions about twisting the chair back and forth and, you know, make all kinds of free decisions. But other decisions I make may be more strongly influenced by things beyond my conscious awareness or control.

Well, I was concerned you'd go to that conclusion still, and so we're still in totally different universes there. And I thought there might be a chance for connection, but no, we're light years apart still.

Well, I was concerned you'd go to that conclusion still, and so we're still in totally different universes there. And I thought there might be a chance for connection, but no, we're light years apart still.

One thing, do you think if we had the brain that didn't follow the laws of physics, then we'd have free will?

One thing, do you think if we had the brain that didn't follow the laws of physics, then we'd have free will?

Well, one thing in that universe, you couldn't have free will because you couldn't do anything because there'd be no laws to follow. I just scratched my head. I'm using some deodorant I got from, not deodorant, but shampoo from Amazon, some anti-dandruff shampoo. I don't know if it's working yet, but I'm scratching my head.

Well, one thing in that universe, you couldn't have free will because you couldn't do anything because there'd be no laws to follow. I just scratched my head. I'm using some deodorant I got from, not deodorant, but shampoo from Amazon, some anti-dandruff shampoo. I don't know if it's working yet, but I'm scratching my head.

But if my brain wasn't following the laws of physics, if my body wasn't following the laws of physics, the laws of the universe, I could not do that. Without the laws of the universe, free will would be impossible because you couldn't do anything. You couldn't raise your hand because it wouldn't follow the laws of muscular contraction and so forth.

But if my brain wasn't following the laws of physics, if my body wasn't following the laws of physics, the laws of the universe, I could not do that. Without the laws of the universe, free will would be impossible because you couldn't do anything. You couldn't raise your hand because it wouldn't follow the laws of muscular contraction and so forth.

Well, that's into your gentle and beautiful, kind and compassionate personality. So I won't try to throw a wrench in that monkey works. What's your thinking, Rhonda?

Well, that's into your gentle and beautiful, kind and compassionate personality. So I won't try to throw a wrench in that monkey works. What's your thinking, Rhonda?

We have two fools and a wise person here.

We have two fools and a wise person here.

Well, just kind of nonsensical, right?

Well, just kind of nonsensical, right?

Yeah, that's right. Who am I is that absurd question of do I have a self? Where is my self located? What's its name? What is its nature? It's just word salad to my way of thinking. But I thought the more interesting question – was whether we can correctly attribute this young man's change to having taken the pill Prozac, or were there other factors that might explain that?

Yeah, that's right. Who am I is that absurd question of do I have a self? Where is my self located? What's its name? What is its nature? It's just word salad to my way of thinking. But I thought the more interesting question – was whether we can correctly attribute this young man's change to having taken the pill Prozac, or were there other factors that might explain that?