How Belief in Free Will Inhibits Compassion

A simplified visual map of the Beingist argument that belief in strong free will can make people more likely to blame others harshly, ignore the causes of harmful behavior, and respond with less compassion.

This map corresponds to the essays Why Is Compassion Rational? and Why the Will Is Not Free.

Axiom/Definition

Implication

Conclusion

Belief in Free Will Implies Uncaused Choices

Belief in free will implies people can make different choices irrespective of their nature and nurture.

People Make Bad Choices

People sometimes make choices that you believe to be destructive, ineffective, antisocial, self-sabotaging.

Compassion is the Desire to Alleviate the Suffering of Another.

Compassion is the consideration for the welfare, and therefore fulfillment, of beings.

People Prefer to Help the Innocent

Folks tend to want to punish the blameworthy, and therefore save their help for those they deem innocent.

Bad Decisions are Deemed Innocent or Blameworthy

Belief in free will leads us to interpret people's undesirable choices as either innocent or blameworthy.

Belief in Free Will Encourages Us Not to Help the Blameworthy

If we deem someone to be blameworthy, we are less motivated to help them.

Free Will Belief Inhibits Compassion

Belief in free will feeds our biases and thereby inhibits our ability to feel compassion.

This map does not claim that harmful behavior should be ignored. It argues that belief in strong free will can make people overemphasize blame and underemphasize causes, prevention, accountability, rehabilitation, and compassion.

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