Perception of predeterminism: Difference between revisions

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'''Feelings of predeterminism''' can be defined as the sudden perspective or feeling that all events, including human actions, are established or decided in advance by prior causes.
'''Perception of predeterminism''' can be described as the sensation that all physical and mental processes are the result of prior causes, that every event and choice is an inevitable outcome that could not have happened differently, and that all of reality is a complex causal chain that can be traced back to the beginning of time. This is accompanied by the absence of the feeling that a person's decision-making processes and general cognitive faculties inherently possess "free will”. This sudden change in perspective causes the person to feel as if their personal choices, physical actions, and individual personality traits have always been completely predetermined by prior causes and are, therefore, outside of their conscious control.


This is an effect which can be spontaneously triggered and felt through a distinct change in thought processes. In terms of how it feels, it can be described as a suppression of the assumption that our internal narrative possesses "free will". This removal feels as if it has revealed free will and choice as entirely illusory.
During this state, a person begins to feel as if their decisions arise from a complex set of internally stored, pre-programmed, and completely autonomous, instant electrochemical responses to perceived sensory input. These sensations are often interpreted as somehow disproving the concept of free will, as the experience of this effect feels as if it is fundamentally incompatible with the notion of being self-determined. This state can also lead a person to the conclusion that their very identity and selfhood are the cumulative results of their biology and past experiences.


This revelation is not a result of cognitive insight leading one onto a realization but instead occurs through a forced and sudden change in perspective. This creates the undeniable sensation that one's personal choices, physical actions, current situational perspective, and the very subject matter of their thought stream has always been completely predetermined by prior causes and are therefore outside of conscious control. Instead of feeling as if they are dictated by free will, one's thoughts and decision-making processes become suddenly felt as a vast and complex set of internally stored, instantly decided, pre-programmed, and completely autonomous chemical and mechanistic responses to perceived sensory input.
Once the effect begins to wear off, a person will often return to their everyday feelings of freedom and independence. Despite this, however, they will often retain realizations regarding what is often interpreted as a profound insight into the apparent illusory nature of free will.


Once the offset of the experience begins to take its toll, the subject will return to feelings of freedom and independence. Despite this, however, they will usually retain information and realizations regarding what is often interpreted as a profound insight into the illusory nature of free will.
Perception of predeterminism is often accompanied by other coinciding effects such as [[Memory suppression|ego dissolution]] and [[physical autonomy]]. It is most commonly induced under the influence of [[dosage#heavy|heavy]] [[dosage|dosages]] of [[psychedelic]] compounds, such as [[LSD]], [[psilocybin]], and [[mescaline]].
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===Psychoactive substances===
===Psychoactive substances===
Compounds within our [[psychoactive substance index]] which may cause this effect include:
Compounds within our [[psychoactive substance index]] which may cause this effect include:
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Anecdotal reports which describe this effect within our [[experience index]] include:
Anecdotal reports which describe this effect within our [[experience index]] include:
{{#ask:[[Category:Experience]][[Effect::Feelings of predeterminism]]|format=ul|Columns=1}}
{{#ask:[[Category:Experience]][[Effect::Feelings of predeterminism]]|format=ul|Columns=1}}
===See also==
===See also===
*[[Responsible use]]=
 
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FanhvXO9Pk Sam Harris on free will video lecture]
*[[Responsible use]]
*[http://news.sfsu.edu/consciousness-has-less-control-believed-according-new-theory Consciousness has less control than believed, according to new theory]
*[[Subjective effects index]]
*[[Subjective effects index]]
*[[Psychedelics#Subjective_effects|Psychedelics - Subjective effects]]
*[[Psychedelics#Subjective_effects|Psychedelics - Subjective effects]]
*[[Dissociatives#Subjective_effects|Dissociatives - Subjective effects]]
*[[Dissociatives#Subjective_effects|Dissociatives - Subjective effects]]
*[[Deliriants#Subjective_effects|Deliriants - Subjective effects]]
*[[Deliriants#Subjective_effects|Deliriants - Subjective effects]]
[[Category:Cognitive]][[Category:Spiritual]][[Category:Effect]]
 
===External links===
 
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predeterminism Predeterminism (Wikipedia)]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCofmZlC72g Sam Harris on Free Will (YouTube)]
*[http://news.sfsu.edu/consciousness-has-less-control-believed-according-new-theory Consciousness has less control than believed, according to new theory (San Francisco State University)]
 
[[Category:Cognitive]]
[[Category:Transpersonal]]
[[Category:Effect]]