Starting from a molecule on up, to cells and beyond, at what system level is a being actually making a decision rather than reacting to their chemical environment based on purely chemical laws? For example, the molecules in a cells are solely reacting to their environment based on chemical fundamentals. However, a person thinks things through and makes decisions. Where in that range do we see decisions start to emerge?

  • dipbeneaththelasers
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    21 year ago

    I think similarly, and have come to the pseudo-conclusion that given infinite data we could predict any single decision. Is that determinism? Yeah, but also we don’t and can’t have infinite data, so also no? But still yeah? Maybe the answer is free will is in a quantum state, and you both do and don’t have it.

    • Adama
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      11 year ago

      If it helps any there are some things that are fundamentally random and unknowable.

      Given a starting condition and an infinite amount of processing power we can predict the overall trend of large systems but you can’t accurate model the exact point of a subatomic particle because you can’t know it’s speed and it’s location since the process of measuring one affects the other.

      Subatomic particles are just wild