Before epilepsy was understood to be a neurological condition, people believed it was caused by the moon, or by phlegm in the brain. They condemned seizures as evidence of witchcraft or demonic possession, and killed or castrated sufferers to prevent them from passing tainted blood to a new generation.
    • unconsciousvoidling
      2·
      1 year ago

      If I placed a plate of fresh baked cookies on a table next to you… would you have the power to not take one?

    • BestBouclettes@jlai.lu
      1·
      1 year ago

      I think it’s mostly because everything about us boils down to chemical reactions and we have no way of controlling them. Our brains do stuff before we can realise it or without realising it at all.

  • kromem@lemmy.worldEnglish
    52·
    1 year ago

    More correct headline to what is being argued:

    “We effectively don’t have free will”

    It’s arguing that choices are constrained by circumstances to the point of there effectively not being much choice at all.

    Not that free will doesn’t exist or some sort of claim of physical determinism.