Michel > I never implied the behavior of the universe or of any of its subsets was or could be in the future exactly predictable, we know since QM that it is not. QM leaves no room for determinism, which is quite an improvement over classical physics as it gives us an open future. But it doesn't leave room for free will either.
> Just this random machine's opinion ;-) Hey I found out how your brain works and it's not exactly random but maybe it is closer to "incommensurable" (whatever that is ;-) : http://funstuff.lefora.com/2008/09/15/random-machine-image-i-found/ ... but seriously - "Free will" is such a nebulous and loaded term, why waste your time? It can be defined in such a way that it clearly exists, or absolutely doesn't exist, and everything in between - including physico-mechanical(i.e. deterministic) incommensurability. IOW - It means precisely whatever you want it to mean... unless you are of the Wiki-persuasion and in the interest of PC need to let everyone put in their 2 cents worth, in 10,000 words or less (not counting the charts). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_will Jones Mauro Lacy wrote re: Michel Jullian's quasi-random opinion: > I never implied the behavior of the universe or of any of its subsets > was or could be in the future exactly predictable, we know since QM > that it is not. QM leaves no room for determinism, which is quite an > improvement over classical physics as it gives us an open future. But > it doesn't leave room for free will either. > Just this random machine's opinion ;-) You're equating randomness with incommensurability. That which at the physico-mechanical(i.e. deterministic) level eludes us as random could be (in some cases) the manifestation of higher forms of order. In fact(and to be precise) "randomness" could be the "window of opportunity" by which higher ordered phenomena can manifest in the physical world. That is: that which is not balanced and equilibrated (i.e. explained and predicted) at a merely physico-mechanical level, seeks for equilibrium and balance(and also cries for an explanation) at a higher level. Life, perception and conscience are then manifestations of the Universe's "quest for closure" at higher and higher levels of existence, some of which are not (not necessarily) material. Mauro
