Single Idea 22352

[catalogued under 16. Persons / F. Free Will / 5. Against Free Will]

Full Idea

I wouldn’t have any idea what was meant by ‘free will'. I’ve visited thirty-one inhabited planets in the universe, and studied reports on one hundred more. Only on Earth is there any talk of free will.

Gist of Idea

Out of more than a hundred planets, Earth is the only one with the idea of free will

Source

Kurt Vonnegut (Slaughterhouse Five [1969], Ch.4)


A Reaction

Spoken by the ambassador from the planet Tralfamadore. Possibly the greatest put down of a philosophical idea since Diogenes responded to Plato's definition of a man. I think free will is a non-idea. It is non-sensical, and doesn't exist.

Related Idea

Idea 1763 Diogenes said a plucked chicken fits Plato's definition of man [Diogenes of Sin., by Diog. Laertius]