Jones, I agree with Conway`s argument that randomness is not the opposite of determinism, but I find myself disagreeing with his assessment of quantum mechanics which says if we have free will than so do electrons.
Free will is not free if it only exists to enhance survival. Certain starting configurations of the game of life will survive and even multiply while others will die out. Survival can happen without intent. You say consciousness is an emergent property of free will. I would say it is the other way around. Consciousness pervades everything, but it is primitive which is different from higher levels of consciousness or self-awareness. Free will is a sign of self-awareness which emerges from consciousness. Harry On Thu, May 7, 2020 at 12:49 PM Jones Beene <jone...@pacbell.net> wrote: > Harry > > Did you notice that there is a kind of deep irony about "The Game or Life" > and the virus itself (any virus) on several levels, including the life and > death of Conway? > > The virus, in general, like a cellular automaton in a computer applet, is > not "alive" in the normal sense but nevertheless can function and evolve in > the same way that complex life does - for its own survival. There is no > free will unless the choice can enhance survival. > > If chemistry alone can present the outward appearance of discretion and > intent - there is almost no doubt that AI will evolve on its own to become > "conscious." Consciousness is the emergent property of free will. > > H LV wrote: > > > I have misunderstood John Conway. He actually makes a distinction > between randomness and quantum mechanics. He thinks quantum mechanics is > compatible with free choice as long as particles have free choice as well . > > > >
