A properly "trained" neural network does pattern recognition; why not pattern creation? I don't see artistic genius as requiring the notion of free will. Scientific genius is just more pattern recognition, isn't it?
Gandalph On Feb 7, 2012, at 5:00 PM, Craig Weinberg wrote: > On Feb 7, 6:31 pm, John Mikes <[email protected]> wrote: >> I wrote it several times before and write it again: there is NO SUCH THING >> as a FREE WILL in a world of total interconnectedness and continual change. >> The term has been invented by religious potentates to keep gulligible >> people under their thumb for FEAR of repraisals if they >> committ "CRIMES" (as they identified). Gullible people believed it >> including physicists who tried to justify it in their math-ways - no matter >> how. >> To make a decision is either consciously dependent on the 'givens' (i.e. >> circumstances as we see them, as compared to our situation - interest - or >> possibilities) - OR - it is unconsciously so. > > If it were completely dependent though, there would no experience of > decision at all. I agree that nothing can be FREE in an absolute > sense, but it can be free in a relative sense. This is why US law > includes a continuum of possibilities of intention, like premeditated > murder, second degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary > manslaughter, criminally negligent manslaughter, and not guilty. Not > to cite the law as some kind of authoritative canon, but to recognize > the utility and civility of the concept. > > , >> We can decide AGAINST our known interest or survival: that, too, is a >> consequence of our conscious, or subconscious mindset. Nothing FREE. > > Our will extends beyond mere decision making though. We can create new > options. We can decide that we don't like the options and seek novel, > ever conceived of before approaches. If artistic and scientific genius > isn't an example of free will, what is the point of recognizing it? > > Craig > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Everything List" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en.
