Theory of Everything - View Single Post - Free will (and the probability of the universe)

TinyTree · **Free will (and the probability of the universe) -** 01-03-2006, 11:56 PM

I want to write this up as an article, but seeing that it is late, and I need to go to sleep, I'll write it up very loosely:

Free will is excercising the probability of the universe. That is to say, the points at which one makes decisions which involve the will, are by definition, choices which involve the probability of the universe.

If you recall, the probability of the universe is related to the trajectory of the universe, and the nature by which it unfolds (as opposed to the deterministic flow of usable energy in thermodynamics). The exercise of free will involves the option of choosing from available futures.

How does this relate to "soul"? It is unknown (and will probably always be unknown). If one were to choose the notion that there exists a "soul" outside of our universe, interacting through quantum laws (or other nondeterministic laws), then one could choose to do so. If one wanted to believe that there is nothing on the other side of the edge of physics, but merely that some choices are balanced perfectly and a quantum event pushes it one way or the other, one could believe that as well.

I don't think it will be possible to discern the difference to these two ideas emperically, although I am sure some quantum physisists have run experiments (or will).

So then we are left with the strange result: it is impossible to tell if "free will" exists on this side of physical law (measurable physical law) or on the other side (within the realm of probability as determined by physical law which allows for multiple future trajectories).

And of course then one must wonder: what is the nature of free will on either side of this divide? The "wholesome" answer is that there exists a soul just on the other side of physical reality which exists outside of time and impact the choice, this I think, will be the belief structure of many people if forced to it. The alternatives are that the concept of "soul" is a complete illusion, or that it is a "collective phenomena" which "exists" in the same way a bunch of people discussing something have a collective consciousness (that is, it has an emergent existence, which can be arguably shown to not really exist at all by itself)

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TinyTree Blue Belt Status: Offline Posts: 132 Thanks Given: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Join Date: Oct 2005 Rep Power: 13	Free will (and the probability of the universe) - 01-03-2006, 11:56 PM I want to write this up as an article, but seeing that it is late, and I need to go to sleep, I'll write it up very loosely: Free will is excercising the probability of the universe. That is to say, the points at which one makes decisions which involve the will, are by definition, choices which involve the probability of the universe. If you recall, the probability of the universe is related to the trajectory of the universe, and the nature by which it unfolds (as opposed to the deterministic flow of usable energy in thermodynamics). The exercise of free will involves the option of choosing from available futures. How does this relate to "soul"? It is unknown (and will probably always be unknown). If one were to choose the notion that there exists a "soul" outside of our universe, interacting through quantum laws (or other nondeterministic laws), then one could choose to do so. If one wanted to believe that there is nothing on the other side of the edge of physics, but merely that some choices are balanced perfectly and a quantum event pushes it one way or the other, one could believe that as well. I don't think it will be possible to discern the difference to these two ideas emperically, although I am sure some quantum physisists have run experiments (or will). So then we are left with the strange result: it is impossible to tell if "free will" exists on this side of physical law (measurable physical law) or on the other side (within the realm of probability as determined by physical law which allows for multiple future trajectories). And of course then one must wonder: what is the nature of free will on either side of this divide? The "wholesome" answer is that there exists a soul just on the other side of physical reality which exists outside of time and impact the choice, this I think, will be the belief structure of many people if forced to it. The alternatives are that the concept of "soul" is a complete illusion, or that it is a "collective phenomena" which "exists" in the same way a bunch of people discussing something have a collective consciousness (that is, it has an emergent existence, which can be arguably shown to not really exist at all by itself)