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Although I do believe we have free will, I don't agree with this specific example: looking at the algorithm used to predict key presses and just doing the oppos
by GTP 3y ago
Although I do believe we have free will, I don't agree with this specific example: looking at the algorithm used to predict key presses and just doing the opposite of what would the algorithm predicts, is letting the algorithm tell you what to do. This is related to inverse psychology.
- lupire 3y agoHow do you define free will?
- aeneasmackenzie 3y agoEven a Turing machine has free will. You can’t find out what it will do without running it, in a way beyond all questions of technical capability. Mechanistic attacks on free will died with godel.
- mensetmanusman 3y agoYes, if you define an array of transistors to have free will, it certainly does!
- pixl97 3y agoI would say it's a measure of probability. Of course measuring probability in non repeatable situations gets tricky. But, if I wrote there is a 90% probability that lupire will write an application to 'beat' the free will program, and then you did so, it should at least give you pause.
- GTP 3y agoI say that I have free will because my decisions come from myself and not from something outside me. Sure, the context in which I live can influence my decisions, but the final choice is mine and it can happen that I take a decision that goes against what the context (society, family etc.) would expect from me.
- mapcars 3y agoThe context part is clear but how do you define "myself"? :)
- GTP 3y agoYes, I had the same discussion a couple years ago and I concluded it by saying that it boils down what's myself: is it my brain? My consciousness? My soul? But this is a related but different problem.
- TheOtherHobbes 3y agoYou feel your decisions come from yourself - whatever that is. That's not at all the same as having objective proof they do.
- dekhn 3y agoI call this the "subjective experience of free will": that is, it does seem to be a thing that people perceive, and it's such a convincing effect that we often turn it from a subjective experience to an objective belief (that free will exists).
- GTP 3y agoSure, I never said I have an objective proof. But there's no proof of the contrary either, so the two positions are at the same level, objectively speaking.
- Sohcahtoa82 3y agoTo an external observer, you are nothing by a very complex set of chemical and electrical reactions. With sufficient technology, we could take a snapshot of your brain and predict exactly how you respond to any given stimulus with 100% accuracy. Free will is an illusion. Consciousness is undefinable and unprovable.
- GTP 3y ago> With sufficient technology, we could take a snapshot of your brain and predict exactly how you respond to any given stimulus with 100% accuracy. This is assuming that intelligence is computable, but no one has proved it yet. And doesn't even get into the problems of quantum physics. Unfortunately, the real illusion is determinism.
- fsckboy 3y agofirst, how do you define the will part? what is will such that it can be free or not?