[ExI] Cellular automata, downward causation, and libertarian determinism

[Jason Resch]

Can downwards causation not exist in a universe whose laws are fully
deterministic?

Consider that the neurons push and guide molecules (neurotransmitters)
around as much as the molecules define the operation of neurons.

The illusion that causes work only bottom-up I think stems from taking
reductionsm too far.

If we can do readily admit that molecules tell neurons how to behave, why
are some so reluctant to admit that neurons can also tell molecules how to
behave?

I think Roger Sperry gives the best treatment of this in his "Mind, Brain,
and Humanist Values" (
https://www.informationphilosopher.com/solutions/scientists/sperry/Mind_Brain_and_Humanist_Values.html
)

Jason

On Sat, Oct 25, 2025, 1:12 AM Giulio Prisco via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> Cellular automata, downward causation, and libertarian determinism
> (2). Some more thoughts, and a Sudoku-like game based on cellular
> automata.
> https://www.turingchurch.com/p/cellular-automata-downward-causation-644
> _______________________________________________
> extropy-chat mailing list
> extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
> http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat
>
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