Freely Determined

October 1, 2022

Philosophers and psychologists have long debated whether humans have free will. Sheldon (psychology. Univ. of Missouri) debunks the deterministic mindset suggesting such a view cannot explain behaviors and personality. Based on extensive research, Sheldon concludes that free will not only exists but is inescapable. Denying its existence leads to unhappiness and even increases immoral behavior. Readers are introduced to the concept of the symbolic self, the lynch pin of free will, which sets goals, considers options to achieve them, and then acts on the best ones. Readers will learn the happiest people feel competent, autonomous, and connected to others. By selecting the goals that are congruent with what the individual wants, rather than what others want them to do, they will be happier. The author also discusses the concept of group consciousness and suggests that, over time, humans may evolve to develop a group consciousness. Even staunch determinists will have difficulty finding holes in Sheldon's cohesive argument. Philosophy, psychology, and sociology students interested in the concept of free will won't be disappointed. VERDICT General readers with an interest in the relationship between happiness and personal choice will appreciate Sheldon's clear, accessible writing. Highly recommended.--Lydia Olszak

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October 1, 2022
A professor of psychology takes a close look at how we make decisions and how the process affects us. The concepts of self-knowledge and free will are often left to philosophers, but Sheldon, who specializes in motivation, well-being, and "positive psychology," is more interested in the real-world implications. On one side are the determinists, who believe that personality is entirely the result of a wide range of intrinsic factors, including brain structure. In this view, the idea of choice is an illusion. Sheldon can see the intellectual sense in this idea but cannot accept that humans are merely the sum of parts and influences. He has little time for determinists who argue that criminals, for example, are not responsible for their actions and that their actions are the fault of everyone but themselves. He also cites evidence showing that a belief in determinism "tends to make people less competent, less happy, and less moral" and that "experiments show that convincing people to believe in determinism negatively affects them in many ways. The results of these experiments provide yet more reason for doubt, and reason to pause, on the road to fatalism." Sheldon generally comes down on the side of free will as a fundamental aspect of being human, although he acknowledges the difficulty of defining it and locating its origins. He devotes several chapters to "the symbolic self," which "emerges from and is built upon brain processes but is not strictly determined by them." Along the way, he examines a number of experiments that have examined the nature and limitations of decision-making. This is interesting stuff, so it's unfortunate that Sheldon wanders in the final third of the book. The sections on happiness research and artificial intelligence don't adequately connect to the determinist-vs.-free will argument. However, the author explores a variety of intriguing topics in an articulate, logical way. A fresh perspective on an old debate, arguing for self-awareness, personal responsibility, and clear thinking.

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