I am slightly bummed that I missed this discussion because this was the part of the boom that I found most compelling. I have always been intrigued by the idea of free will: do we really have a choice win deciding our actions, or are our actions determined by chemical reactions that are out of our hands? Do we really have the potential to change who we are? And if we do, is the urge to change who we are based on chemical reactions we cannot control either? I'm getting into mindfuck territory so I'll stop there, but you get the point.
I believe that humans must believe that we have at least some range of free will, because if not, we would not possess the motivation to live and move forward. As Ryan Pearson said, our consciousness and free will are our greatest assets; without them, we are at the same level as the other species int he animal kingdom. As humans, it is in our instinct to feel superior, and we have an innate drive to maintain this dominant status.
I look forward to reaching the part of the reading about the possible discovery of the complete formula to human life, because it raises interesting questions about hazy boundaries and natural potential.
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