“The contradiction between free will and scientific determinism is just an illusion”
— Yuval Noah Harari
Simplified Meaning:
People often think that having free will—being able to make their own choices—and scientific determinism—the idea that everything happens according to natural laws—can’t both be true at the same time. However, this belief is just a misunderstanding. Imagine you’re deciding what to have for lunch. You might feel completely free to choose a sandwich or a salad, but your choice could be influenced by many factors: what you like, what’s available, even what you saw on TV earlier. These influences don’t mean you didn’t make your own choice; they just show that our decisions can be shaped by various things. Similarly, while natural laws explain how the world works, they don’t take away our ability to choose within those laws. Understanding this can help people see they still have control over their lives, even if there are natural rules at play.
