On Tue, Jun 12, 2012 at 9:39 PM, meekerdb <meeke...@verizon.net> wrote:
> I means that, in retrospect, I can't trace back to external (to me) > causes, a deterministic sequence that inevitably led me to do that. > Isn't that randomness? > Conceivably we could make an intelligent machine that could keep a > record of all its internal states so that when did something it could then > cite the sequence of internal states and say, "See I had to do it. It was > just physics." > > And the machine would be right ... > > Or in other words, if the same situation is repeated "I would do > otherwise". But it's difficult to explain (I might be wrong too). > > OK, let's suppose that exactly the same conscious state is repeated N > times. If each time we do a different action, even opposite ones (such as > killing or not killing someone), then our decision making is basically > random. I don't think that is what is meant by free will. > > > I think that's wrong. You are equating unpredictable with random. Suppose > the same conscious state is repeated and one second later you either shoot > someone or you punch him. In that second different unconscious processes > may determine what you do; so that which you do is unpredictable. > Agreed, but then the reason is unconscious. To me, that's not free will. > But it is only 'random' within a range which is determined by who you are > - and in this case you are very angry with the someone - > OK, but I think a defender of free will would say that you could have also kissed that person instead of attacking him. > so it is still an exercise of your will. And it's not constrained or > coerced, so it's 'free will'. > > But you are removing all possible decisions except different ways of attaking the victim, so it is not free will, at least not that feeling that I could have done anything no matter what. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en.
