What if willpower does not exist?
jesperbylund.comThe problem with the standard definition if willpower, is the association with “control.” Control is an illusion of the self expecting mind. If all things are considered, control itself eludes to maintaining a stable continuity. All things are not considered, uncertainty is supreme.
If we were to reconsider willpower as “the capacity to effect the determination of resolve” may the principle be more insightful?
Does the capacity to effect the determination of resolve exist?
Not sure I understand.
In “the capacity to effect the determination of resolve“ isn’t the “determination of resolve” the same as will power?
My attempt is to reframe as willpower as having mental capacity to take information into account, or to lack the capacity and default to path of least resistance logic.
In all three we are assuming there’s an actor making a choice. But I think we can stay at that level of abstraction for this discussion.
“Determination of resolve” is will, and the “capacity for effect” is power (if it isn’t effective it isn’t powerful.)
Will is affected by many things, information one among them (information is the removal of uncertainty. If it does not remove uncertainty it is not information.)
The problem with the phantom of “choice” is many fold. Among which this persistent discussion of whether influences unseen or otherwise give the illusion of will or power.
That will may be influenced or fooled or influenced is a separate consideration (arguably will is a skill which may be developed and enhanced.)
That each individual has a feedback chamber which allows the interruption and override of determination in realtime is the glorious grail of will every individual being “should” covet.
Current theories about willpower has a bunch of conflicting evidence. What if willpower is actually not about will at all, but about how the mind handles information?
The title is misleading. The article does not reject existence of willpower, just discusses a different theories about it.
Addictive substances show that in some cases chemicals can affect willpower.
It could still can be explained that the brain processes the pleasure gained from heroin as more important than the possibility of early death. However, different drugs have different addiction-forming potential which could indicate at least partial chemical influence.
“Misleading” is accurate I guess. I guess I’m trying to reframe “willpower” into just being a side effect caused by information processing. Not a system in itself.
That does not oppose experiments with chemicals etc. Just offer a different explanation for how they work.