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>Suppose you have a computer that evaluates whether an equation has a real-valued root. The answer is yes or no. You can predict the answer. But now you can cha
by weare138 6y ago
>Suppose you have a computer that evaluates whether an equation has a real-valued root. The answer is yes or no. You can predict the answer. But now you can change the algorithm so that if you input the correct answer, the code will output the exact opposite answer, ie “yes” if you predicted “no” and “no” if you predicted “yes”. As a consequence, your prediction will never be correct. Clearly, this has nothing to do with free will but with the fact that the system you make a prediction for gets input which the prediction didn’t account for. There’s nothing interesting going on in this argument.
This is an odd philosophical conjecture. Who created this hypothetical computer and why? Could you willingly create something that negates the premise of free will?
- deostroll 6y ago> Could you willingly create something that negates the premise of free will? The author only meant to point out the innate nature of a QM particle. Why that is the way it is is a different topic.
- ccvannorman 6y agoThis is a great point. No, you cannot actually create anything that negates the premise of free will. Even if the Universe is 100% deterministic, it would take a computer the size of the universe to predict anything. Therefore, determinism may or may not be true, but from within the confines of this universe, we will never be able to observe it fully (e.g. there does not exist the possibility for an Oracle who could predict every action). To prove this consider the opposite: If such an Oracle was able to exist, you could simply ask it whether you would select Red or Blue next, then do the opposite of whatever it predicted.