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To: ccmay
"We have no choice but to believe in free will."

Well, I would like to believe in free will, but I have a problem...I am a strong fan of causality.

When someone asserts that he has free will, I translate it into English as: "My outputs are not functions of my inputs."

Very well then...What are your outputs a function of?

Randomness does not resurrect free will; a random robot is still a robot. For similar reasons, Heisenberg does not save it either.

I'd really, really like to believe I have free will. I am forced to act as if I do. Only...if you believe in causality, what room is left for free will--excluding randomness and uncertainty?

--Boris

31 posted on 02/19/2002 12:59:48 PM PST by boris
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To: boris
When someone asserts that he has free will, I translate it into English as: "My outputs are not functions of my inputs."

Well there's your error right up front! Free will affects how such a person would react to their 'inputs.' Try encountering a dozen people at random one at a time. Give them the 'input' of saying 'Hello?' to each. Are their 'outputs' the same? Did their free will have any effect on said 'output?'

Gee, that was easy.

35 posted on 02/19/2002 1:05:32 PM PST by FormerLib
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To: boris
Irrelevant. As long as we believe we have freewill, it's as good as having it.

Do you think Captain Pike really cares that he's not fit and young on Talos IV?

39 posted on 02/19/2002 1:10:39 PM PST by Senator Pardek
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