Sep 18 2023 56 mins
Olga has a belief that free will doesn't exist. This belief isn't rooted in spirituality or intuition, it is deeply rooted in science and reason. Olga believes if people understood that free doesn't exist, it would actually inspire us to be more humble, more caring, and increase our overall quality of life.
These conversations are so rich with good discussion because there is so much to get into. Does free will really not exist, how would we know? What are the implications of free will not existing, how do we know it would make people better off knowing that? If free will doesn't exist does that mean our individual lives are meaningless? How can any decision I make actually matter if I didn't have the free will to decide anyway?
As a scientist and a philosopher, Olga was a great person to kick around these questions with. She's thought through so much of it in her work but also in a novella she just released exploring these exact topics.
A more complete bio from Olga below-
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF). I hold my degrees in Physics (PhD), Electrical Engineering (MSc and BSc), and Psychology (BSc). Professionally I focus on studying adolescent brain development and mental health. My other goals in life include sharing my passion for science and critical thinking, and helping people have more joy in their lives. The award-winning novella Just City is my first fiction book, which reflects my passion for science and critical thinking.