B Does Heisenberg's uncertainty principle imply no free will?

[ddjj77]

And right there you are implying a connotation--"without any will of its own" means a machine can't have free will. But, again, that's assuming what you are supposed to be proving.
Or, to put it another way, if that's your definition of "machine", then we are not machines, because we have free will, and by your definition, machines don't.

I take back my use of the word "machine." I'll just say, an assembly of physical entities, all of which obey precise physical laws, cannot have free will.

 

[PeterDonis]

What does a "point in spacetime" mean?

Heuristically, a point in space at a particular instant of time. (Getting more rigorous probably takes us beyond the scope of a "B" level thread.)

 

[PeterDonis]

an assembly of physical entities, all of which obey precise physical laws, cannot have free will.

My response is still the same; you are assuming what you are supposed to be proving. Or else you are denying physicalism--that is, you are denying that human beings, who have free will, are "an assembly of physical entities, all of which obey precise physical laws". Dennett is a physicalist, so of course if you don't believe physicalism is correct you won't agree with him.

 

[DrClaude]

Closed pending moderation.

 

[fresh_42]

The thread has done its duty and the title itself (free will) is subject to a vast number of papers in philosophy and theology. Neither of which is a matter we could adequately discuss. The connection to HUP is certainly often made in pop science publications and even otherwise serious scientists are not immune to drop remarks about it. However, those contributions should be taken with a grain of salt, as they are regularly made by scientists in their role as human beings like you and me, and not in their role as scientists.

Therefore this thread will remain closed.