Quote Originally Posted by wufwugy View Post
In my estimation, the concept of free will may require the concept of there being metaphysical truth. Scientific truth gets us to determinism, and that's that.
Metaphysical truth is no less a concept than scientific truth. There is metaphysical truth... that there is time and space. Why should I abandon the concept of things existing outside of physical reality? Pi doesn't exist in a physical form, but it's extremely useful when it comes to describing the physical world.

I grant the deterministic nature of the universe is a logical concept, unlike free will. But consciousness is illogical if the universe is deterministic. Why would I need to feel pain when I touch fire? Surely I was always going to touch it then immediately move my hand away, why does my brain need to be told to move my hand?

The bottom line really is that life just seems utterly pointless if we don't have free will. I choose to believe in the more optimistic possibility.