Your operative word there, as I perceive it, is "merely". Also, since I have experience in both automated process control and in software development, I view the "human control loop" as being most akin to the software construct of an "event loop". In an event loop, the program cycles at maximum speed through a loop where it is waiting for an "interrupt" or "event" signal. A good example of an "event" is a mouse click, which then puts the program into a series of "CASE" statements that identify where the mouse coordinates were when the click occurred. For example: "mouse click in scroll bar" or "mouse click on button #..."
That sort of control loop is not deterministic, but reactionary. It is the epitome of free-will decision-making. (We can decide not to react to that car approaching us at high speed on a cross street - although we usually choose avoidance action, instead...)
I tend to see us as having such an "event loop" "running" continuously, but I also appreciate that we can be predictive of the future: ("Will that car pass through the intersection before I get there?")
Ask anyone who has designed control systems IF he can design one to handle all the events and decisions we are capable of making -- just on a drive to the grocery store. He will probably acknowledge that the human eye-brain-body -- as designed by our Creator -- is far more capable and flexible than any system he could design...
I just watched a video of a man holding a shotgun in his right hand and eight clay pigeon targets in his left. He then proceeded to toss the targets into the air -- and then break them all with eight individual shots (no "doubles") before they reached the ground! We are, indeed, "fearfully and wonderfully made"!!!
I just watched a video of a man holding a shotgun in his right hand and eight clay pigeon targets in his left. He then proceeded to toss the targets into the air -- and then break them all with eight individual shots (no "doubles") before they reached the ground! We are, indeed, "fearfully and wonderfully made"!!!
Thank you oh so very much for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!