FTA "If we presume that Chaos Theory is indeed a thing, and that Rule 30 qualifies as a way where simple behavioral programing becomes indeterminate, we must conclude that (real) cells, by which I mean early Earth life, could also have indeterminate programming."
Chaos Theory is inherently deterministic, as is Rule 30. Indeterminate behaviour does not mean something is inherently non-deterministic, it means it's not explicitly prescribed a priori. Even the use of random numbers does not make the behaviour inherently nondeterministic because computers don't use truly random numbers (if truly random number generation is even possible). Random number generators use a seed to generate the "random" value based on a deterministic process/algorithm.
FTA "And if we define “Free Will” as “behavior which is not deterministic,” then we must conclude that we have free will, provided Darwinism holds"
Not to mention both uses of "we must conclude" are not necessarily true. Darwinian evolution has to do with deterministic (but so complex that to us humans it seems random) processes of random mutation and natural selection. And even if true randomness was possible then you're left with a system that's part deterministic and part truly random, I still fail to see where there's any room for "Free Will" in that process. So "If we define free will as non-deterministic behavior" means just random behavior then there doesn't seem like there's much freedom or will left in that definition of "free will".
After reading both the post and your comment Mike, it seems that one could hypothesize that indeterministic qualities create the preconditions or space for “free will”. If random genetic coding is allowing a *possibly* random outcome, that gap in deterministic guard rails *might* allow for someone to choose to go left instead of right in a certain light.
Of course, the debate of randomness comes into play. And then the programs influencing the decision in that *gap* of programming must be weighted against the gap itself. Freedom isn’t free, they say.
If there were no free will, would one even be able to _formulate_ "Fiat justita, ruat caelum" ("Let justice be done, though the heavens fall), let alone believe it and act on the belief?
> And if we define “Free Will” as “behavior which is not deterministic,” then we must conclude that we have free will, provided Darwinism holds.
In this context, doesn't "deterministic" usually mean "can only work one way, so that it could be predicted in theory" rather than "is simple enough for predicting it to be practical" ?
Yeah I don't think the argument works at all. I can see how it's a fun way to troll people, but like... determinism and non-determinism don't compete, and whatever is more efficient wins. Either determinism is true or it isn't, and if it is, then nothing non-deterministic has ever or can ever happen. There is no opportunity for a non-deterministic cell to emerge and compete.
FTA "If we presume that Chaos Theory is indeed a thing, and that Rule 30 qualifies as a way where simple behavioral programing becomes indeterminate, we must conclude that (real) cells, by which I mean early Earth life, could also have indeterminate programming."
Chaos Theory is inherently deterministic, as is Rule 30. Indeterminate behaviour does not mean something is inherently non-deterministic, it means it's not explicitly prescribed a priori. Even the use of random numbers does not make the behaviour inherently nondeterministic because computers don't use truly random numbers (if truly random number generation is even possible). Random number generators use a seed to generate the "random" value based on a deterministic process/algorithm.
FTA "And if we define “Free Will” as “behavior which is not deterministic,” then we must conclude that we have free will, provided Darwinism holds"
Not to mention both uses of "we must conclude" are not necessarily true. Darwinian evolution has to do with deterministic (but so complex that to us humans it seems random) processes of random mutation and natural selection. And even if true randomness was possible then you're left with a system that's part deterministic and part truly random, I still fail to see where there's any room for "Free Will" in that process. So "If we define free will as non-deterministic behavior" means just random behavior then there doesn't seem like there's much freedom or will left in that definition of "free will".
After reading both the post and your comment Mike, it seems that one could hypothesize that indeterministic qualities create the preconditions or space for “free will”. If random genetic coding is allowing a *possibly* random outcome, that gap in deterministic guard rails *might* allow for someone to choose to go left instead of right in a certain light.
Of course, the debate of randomness comes into play. And then the programs influencing the decision in that *gap* of programming must be weighted against the gap itself. Freedom isn’t free, they say.
Nice comment.
Engineers are just better at this because of FAPP. FAPP, free will exists and I have it. Done.
Precisely as the Gypsy woman foretold.
Deterministic pseudorandomness is just as good for fitness purposes as true randomness.
The first comment by Nick the best explanation for why some people have free will.
You say - if we define “Free Will” as “behavior which is not deterministic....
Free will isn't just the absence of conditions which preclude it.
If there were no free will, would one even be able to _formulate_ "Fiat justita, ruat caelum" ("Let justice be done, though the heavens fall), let alone believe it and act on the belief?
That was fun. Time for coffee. Nope, I'll read some more...but coffee would be good while reading...
I think there fore I lazily repeat the same actions over and over again.
> And if we define “Free Will” as “behavior which is not deterministic,” then we must conclude that we have free will, provided Darwinism holds.
In this context, doesn't "deterministic" usually mean "can only work one way, so that it could be predicted in theory" rather than "is simple enough for predicting it to be practical" ?
Yeah I don't think the argument works at all. I can see how it's a fun way to troll people, but like... determinism and non-determinism don't compete, and whatever is more efficient wins. Either determinism is true or it isn't, and if it is, then nothing non-deterministic has ever or can ever happen. There is no opportunity for a non-deterministic cell to emerge and compete.