Two Astrophysicists Debate Free Will

Does free will exist? Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice sit down with astrophysicist Charles Liu sit down to discuss the existence of free will and whether physics allows for choice in our lives.

We explore cause and effect: how does uncertainty and chaos in the universe factor into free will? How important is the illusion of free will to society? What does a society that acknowledges a lack of free will look like?

Note for the fans who caught it: the visual of the “Quarterback” evading the sack was actually of Running Back Christian McCaffrey—we’ll stick to the physics field 😉.

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Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!

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00:00 - Introduction: Free Will
00:24 - Cause, Effect, & Chaos
4:51 - What Would You Do If Everything Was Predetermined?
6:40 - Free Win in Society
12:08 - Understanding the True Nature of Free Will

[StarTalk]

Did you click on this video out of your own free will?

[jsomnkt]

“I want to compare notes” I love that friendly way of saying let’s have a debate

[DannyMexen]

Bold of these gentlemen to assume that I exist in the first place.

[angelinahong]

My personal opinion….Charles Liu has a very beautiful and sophisticated perspective that speaks to the connection that we all have with each other. That connection is thrown around a lot but is actually a very deep and meaningful truth.

[Bowie_E]

I love the scientific community so much because disagreement doesn't end in opposition. It just leads to further quests for knowledge.

[zachkamran]

This is such a good, true debate. They aren’t arguing against each other, they are testing ideas in a mutual effort to establish a truth. Beautiful

[nickm]

Charles Liu was my professor in 2015. One of the very few that left a lasting impression on me. It's good to see his enthusiasm has remained unchanged.

[NewRicoSilk]

That was a good ending I like how they slowly but surely understood one another as opposed to just blocking one out

[NimTheHuman]

7:43 hit. I love how Tyson tied the lack of free will to a need for more compassion. "The more I add up and explore the human condition, I'm forced to conclude ... that we are all products of an absence of free will and as a result, society needs more compassion for those that do not fit in."

[RobertSpitzer]

I had no free will in watching this video. Every moment of my life leading up to this point left me with only one option.

[supadupatahj]

This is how adult conversations should go. I really enjoyed this

[jazzybash]

In English class in 9th grade we read the Fatalist. Our teacher then had us split into two groups and debate this. He left in the middle of it to do something and honestly we debated this until the bell ring and we were so engrossed that we didn’t realize he was gone at first.

[cbbpspike]

Man, I love this. Please do more videos like this. I feel validated because of conditions I have but then also not perceiving them as excuses because I have been able to see them and realize they exist in myself. Science, therapy, and humor all in one video. And the understanding and caring is just the icing on the cake. These are the types of videos that motivate and I beg you to continue to make more content like this. I hope that I wrote this of my own free will but regardless I would have done so anyway. Thank you so much, love everything StarTalk does!

[CUBOSH]

Charles Liu is your best guest -- he should be a regular on the show. this guy speaks with crystal clarity

[ZoWrld]

love these types of conversations. Very captivating dialogue..

[KTUBE]

I love that these videos are never too long

[BartJBols]

Chuck really became part of the conversation tbh, instead of in the early days just being comic relief. He actually adds useful perspectives and engages with the matter that is a unique but contributing perspective.

[kurtismcdermid]

There really seemed to be a "negative things show no freewill" and "positive things show freewill" assumption. Charles repeatedly would say there was free will to help someone but never seemed to consider the possibility that people who "choose" to help someone had no more ability to make that decision than the person on the other side of the example.

[lecanaillou-mrnw]

You all have filled my heart with joy. Thank you for your kind words!

[Papatoothwort]

Holy moly, time to find more videos featuring Charles Liu. I don’t know that I necessarily agree with his argument here, but I adore the level of humanity he brings to that argument (also extra points for the Arrival mention).