Free Will

What does it mean to have free will in a world of fixed physical laws, with inevitable socio-political constraints, and a brain that runs on incommensurate amount of biases, and hidden automatic/unconscious shortcuts?

We all want to have wings, and fly high against the winds, unchained and free from within and outside constraints, but are we unknowingly flying inside invisible cage bars? And even if we were free, can we handle the consequential fall? Having free will adds the burden of being responsible for our actions, and dealing with their consequences.

So let's explore together the complex workings of free will with the following questions :

• What does it mean (not) to have freewill for you?
• Why do you think that it is important to have (a certain degree of) freewill?
• Could we possibly feel free in a prison? Alternatively, could we feel free in a world of infinite possibilities, set of choices and actions?
• Does freewill only mean that we are free from constraints?
• What does Kafka's statement, "I am free and that is why I am lost", mean to you?
• Is freewill a subjective feeling that differs from an individual to another, or is there an objective and universal notion of freewill?
• Modern advances in AI have made it possible to surpass human's ability to make optimal decisions - Do you think that AI could possibly develop some kind of free will?

Looking forward to meeting you all for an inspiring conversation about free will! :)

To build together a fruitful, respectful, and inspiring conversation, please be aware of the following ground rules:

• Listen respectfully, without interrupting.
• Listen actively and with an ear to understanding others' views.
• Comment on ideas, not individuals.
• Commit to learning, not debating. Comment in order to share information, not to persuade.
• Avoid blame, speculation, and inflammatory language.
• Allow everyone the chance to speak.
• Avoid no-shows and late drop-outs to be fair towards the participants in the waitlist and the organizer. Please be aware that more than 2 no-shows and drop-outs will exclude you from the next meetups.
• Avoid showing up to the event if you are not part of the attendees list to be fair towards the waitlist members and the organizer.
• Be mindful and present during the discussion and avoid being on your phone - after all, it's the beauty of a face-to-face social interaction.