Listen "The Illusion of Autonomy: You Are the Piano"
Episode Synopsis
Bry Willis from Philosophics Blog argues that our sense of autonomy is an illusion. His article critiques compatibilist views, which suggest freedom can coexist with causal determinism, using the analogy of a self-playing piano to illustrate that we are merely the instruments of our conditioning. Bry contends that even self-reflection and the ability to adapt are themselves determined, implying that our choices are ultimately the result of internal wiring and external influences. Therefore, the text suggests that we do not truly choose our actions or desires, but rather our behaviour is a consequence of predetermined factors, with a follow-up post promised to explore the concept of identity in this context.https://philosophics.blog/2025/04/23/unwilling-steelman-part-i/
More episodes of the podcast Philosophics — Philosophical and Political Ramblings
Parable of the Last Unicorn: A Reading
22/11/2025
The Scaffolding of Foundational Fictions
21/11/2025
The Last Unicorn: A Parable of Scaffolding
21/11/2025
The Evolution and Limits of Language
18/11/2025
AI Meta-Cognition: Platonism to Pizza
17/11/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.