No problem with the delay; and no problem with your desire to sit on the fence and to play devil's advocate.
I've also been having some interesting in-person discussions about 'free will' with a group the past few weeks.
There are theories out there that with enough data everything can be predicted, even peoples’ behaviors. The advancement in weather prediction technology seems to support that.
This represents the crux of my disagreement with the "AI will rule the world" crowd. My take on human intelligence is that humans are unique in our ability to willingly go against the aforementioned 'prediction algorithm' (if it were to ever become a reality). In other words, I am saying that humans have the unique ability to go against what all the neurons, synapses, circumstances, etc. would predict, and that we have the ability to do that rationally (which can sometimes be conscious, but can also be subconscious).
I cannot prove my position and I do not think the alternative can be proved either -- it is merely what makes 'sense' to me as I try to formulate a holistic view of the world.
My point about the 'moral compass' is that we each have one and that reality, imho, points toward the existence of free will and thus the ability to go against the prediction model. This follows some of the arguments laid out by C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity. It's been a while since I've read that book, but it gives some thought-provoking philosophical arguments in support of a Divine Creator who has given us that moral compass.
My assertion is that, without free will, everything is meaningless. And, if everything is meaningless, why bother with anything and why take on any responsibilities -- eat, drink, and be merry, for what else is there. To me, that would make fence-sitting an unenviable position -- unable to benefit from either perspective, caught in the middle.
I am curious as to why you find fence-sitting desirable.
"My assertion is that, without free will, everything is meaningless. And, if everything is meaningless, why bother with anything[...]
Without free will everything would be meaningless to us, but I'm not sure that would have a significant impact on life in it's entirety. Therefore, life might, as a matter of it being the only thing that works, require us to evolve into thinking we have free will, without ever really being in the driver's seat, so to speak. Looking at faithful fanatics we can see that once our minds decide something we're capable of closing our eyes to everything that doesn't align with what we want to believe. I don't see any reason why this can't happen on a subconscious level without us even being aware that we're choosing an illusion.
Regarding fence-sitting... I wouldn't say it's desirable so much as necessary for me, personally, to get a more comprehensive view of as many sides as possible, but I don't feel caught in the middle. I feel like I have options. :)
I can wake up tomorrow a slave to a tyrannical god or a god in my own right. Or neither at all. Who knows how it all really works?
Sounds like a reasonable 'truth-seeking' position to take. Personally, even though I find myself solidly on the 'free will' side of the fence, I strongly prefer truth to illusion, deception, or whatever the alternative might be. That is why I welcome constructive discourse with other genuine truth-seekers.
I used to fall the same way, but experience has taught me few things are as simple as they seem and the bigger the questions the more complex the answers, if any exist at all.
I think we could each find some unknown to drive ourselves mad in pursuit of an answer to, but that denies us the wonder of the mystery. I’m pretty sure if there ever comes a time when the world’s fate hinges on my understanding of everything someone or something will drop me a line. 😁