March 17, 2007

Quantum Indeterminacy Does Not Equal Free Will

In the comments of my last post on free will vs. determinism, Moishe Potemkin brought up a good question that I think bears further examination. Moishe's comment:

I would hesitate to "presume" determinism once it has been proven false by quantum physics.

Briefly, quantum physics has revealed that, at the molecular level, events that are thought to be causal in nature turn out to, in fact, be statistical. Read more on quantum indeterminacy if you're interested; the important point is that, at the quantum level, there is no such thing as determinism. The supposition is that this indeterminacy provides a basis for free will in the mind.

The problem is is that it doesn't. Even if we could show some kind of connection between physical brain states and cognitive decisions, we must examine what kind of "free will" we would be left with if based on quantum indeterminacy. An indeterminate free will would be random, erratic and unpredictable. The individual exercising such a free will would not appear to us to be acting in any rational fashion. What we are looking for in free will is not the potential for any random occurrence to present itself at any time, but a reasoned, rational intellect exercising a will that can make a decision independent of antecedent conditions. Quantum indeterminism does not provide the basis for this kind of free will.

In case I said that badly, here's a bit more of a professional approach to the subject.

Posted by Greg at March 17, 2007 10:49 PM in , | TrackBack
Comments

Quantum probability may not "cause" free will, but it may provide the "wiggle room" within which free will may be exercised.

Posted by: Liorah Lleucu at March 18, 2007 12:23 AM

Liorah: the point I was trying to make is that it does not.

Posted by: Greg at March 18, 2007 12:35 AM

I'm going to side with Liorah here (surprise!). All quantum indeterminacy does is break the chain of proximate inevitability. It does not preclude the participation of other factors.

If I have a rubber ball, I cannot accurately describe the velocity and location of its northernmost quark, but I can still throw the ball through a window.

Posted by: moishe potemkin at March 18, 2007 7:15 AM

What does a rubber ball have to do with free will? Are you claiming that you are able to affect the statistical movement of your brain electrons with your consciousness? That would be quite a claim. Please read the page I linked to above if my argument is unconvincing.

Posted by: Greg at March 18, 2007 9:47 AM

Natural probabilities may be indeterminant, but free will can craft the weight (mass) of any given probability, influencing its improbable but very real outcome. One can creat "crafted probabilities" over natural probabilities. Just as "mass" and the ability to make free will choices among a range of probabilities influence outcome, another quantum concept which figures into the process is called "coarse grained histories". True free will can influence the outcome of any given "natural" probability.

I know this, even if I am neither a mathematician nor a physicist. For example, in my dreams this morning, I dreamt of two potential outcomes, i.e., two alternative realities as they exist prior to manifestation. As a human being with free will, I can choose which alternative reality will manifest by the mere act of choosing (and reiterating that choice throughout the layers of reality). My reiterated choice gives weight (mass) to one probability over the other, despite that the natural probability may prefer an outcome opposite my choice. Nevertheless, the "mass" I give an improbable reality by conciously choosing it will make it manifest against the natural one because my choice will "fall into" reality before the other one by virtue of its "weight", canceling out the natural one. See?

Posted by: Liorah Lleucu at March 18, 2007 1:20 PM

Of course, the "weight" is added to a premanifest probability at the level of binah. The higher the binah, the greater the weight which can be added.

Posted by: Liorah Lleucu at March 18, 2007 1:42 PM

Let me rephrase the previous response:

"Weight" is added to a premanifest probability by pouring one's will into a choice at the level of binah. The "higher" the binah (and will), the greater the weight which can be added to any given alternate reality, influencing it into manifestation over any other.

Posted by: Liorah Lleucu at March 18, 2007 2:05 PM

There is a book entitled "The Mind and the Brain"-- Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force. It talks about this psychiatrist and his approach to treating patients with OCD by focusing attention away from the negative behaviors and actively on positive ones. Anyway, in the book he discusses the concept of free will based on quantum ideas. Just thought I would recommend it based on the posts.

Posted by: SaraQ at March 18, 2007 5:39 PM

Statistical randomness is not the same as a total absence of design within events. It's more about our ignorance about design within events, in the absence of other information.

Posted by: Bob Miller at March 26, 2007 2:33 PM