Optimistic Skepticism

Watching this TEDx talk, the speaker refers to his approach to free will as optimistic skepticism.  It reminds me a one of my mantras from Robert Anton Wilson, "I don't believe in anything", which is to say that I don't disbelieve either.  Believers are more likely to harbor all sorts of nutting ideas that lead to disfunctional systems.  Punitive justice, blame the victim and most fatally a clinging to the most disfunctional parts of the status quo.

On the other hand, if we become avowed atheists of free will, we fall into the same trap.  If we come to believe in no free will, like believing that there is no god, we can relieve ourselves of our obligation to our community, of our duty to act and give aid, to contribute to the common wealth.