[extropy-chat] Best To Regard Free Will as Existing

[A B]

Hi Samantha,

Consider that there *appears* to be nothing in the
laws of physics that would prevent me from winning the
next Powerball drawing (as several humans have
achieved this). As far as I can tell, me winning the
Powerball should not require that I "impose my will on
the Universe". And consistent with that, there appears
to be nothing in the laws of physics that would
prevent me from selecting the winning numbers.  You
appear to believe in free will, so I presume you
believe that I have free and valid choices in what
numbers I select. And there is nothing terribly
complicated about selecting from 9 numbers. Should I
buy a single ticket and expect with 100% certainty
that I will win. After all, I "willed" that I would
choose the correct numbers that would win. Should I
expect with 1% certainty that I will win? Surely free
will is worth at least 1% of my decision-making. If
so, I'll just buy 100 different, willfully chosen
tickets next time. :-) . But, according to the jackpot
probabilities, free will accounts for far, far less
than 1% of my decision-making.

If absolute free will exists, why can't I have
everything I want that is not excluded by the
fundamental laws of physics?

If you believe free will is partially limited and not
absolute, what justification can you provide to show
that the limitations extend "here, but no further" ?

Best Wishes,

Jeffrey Herrlich

 

--- Samantha Atkins <sjatkins at mac.com> wrote:

> 
> On Apr 4, 2007, at 8:41 PM, A B wrote:
> 
> > Hi Thomas,
> >
> > Could you somehow rephrase your
> objection/question,
> > I'm afraid I don't really understand it.
> Exceptional
> > reading comprehension is not one of my strengths.
> >
> > The point that I'm trying to make is that if "free
> > will" (as it is commonly interpreted) really
> exists
> > (which I don't believe at all) then perhaps we
> should
> > all acknowledge that it is quite limited (severely
> in
> > my opinion). If it were not limited, I would have
> > everything I've ever wanted, no matter how
> > fantastical.
> 
> What?  Free will is about being able to choose
> between alternatives,  
> including alternative courses of action.  It is not
> remotely about  
> being able to impose your will on the universe.
> 
> - s
> 
> 
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> 



 
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