On Sat, Jan 18, 2014 at 02:32:29PM +1300, LizR wrote: > On 18 January 2014 13:01, Russell Standish <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Exactly. Quantum superposition within microtubules seems an unlikely > > source of computational power within the brain. Quantum randomness is > > more likely to occur due to thermal fluctuations across the synaptic > > gap, and I quite agree with Edgar that it is an essential part of the > > only sensible conception of free will (the ability to act irrationality). > > > > Hm, if that's a sensible conception of free will, those of us who think the > concept is meaningless have nothing to fear. > > So, does it mean, to act irrationally? If someone commits an apparently > irrational act (suicide, say) there is presumably always a reason that to > them appears rational, or at least that appear to be what they have decided > to do. (Assuming they have control over their actions and understand what > they are doing, of course.)
An act (such as your suicide example) that resulted from in depth reflection and analysis is still a rational act, albeit for a rather peculiar utility. Irrational acts would be those where no such analysis took place - such as acting on a hunch, or going by gut instinct, or just going beserk. Surprisingly, perhaps, such acts sometimes deliver payoffs to the actor. Cheers -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof Russell Standish Phone 0425 253119 (mobile) Principal, High Performance Coders Visiting Professor of Mathematics [email protected] University of New South Wales http://www.hpcoders.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
