Metaphysical Conservatism and Mechanical Characteristics of Human Nature

We sketch some reasons for thinking that modern formulations of mechanics might shed some light on old questions about human nature, in particular the malleability of human nature and the character of limits on cognition and volition. We illustrate the approach by showing how to regard certain forces that depend on mental states or the states of artificial controllers as interaction forces between minds or controllers and their environments, thus allowing physical measurement of some mental properties.