RE: Free will & the Conservation Laws
February 28, 2016 at 5:47 pm
(This post was last modified: February 28, 2016 at 6:05 pm by Alex K.)
The way these conservation laws are implemented in ordinary Quantum Mechanics, still allows for quantum randomness and hence for a departure from physical determinism.
For example, momentum is in principle conserved, but a particle will in general end up in a quantum superposition of many different momentum states (it cannot have an absolutely sharp momentum because of the Heisenberg principle). When one then measures this momentum, it is a matter of chance which one of the possible values in the superposition one finds. In the Copenhagen interpretation, this choice is indeed not determined by anything.
My 2c -
Free will however is imho an illusion no matter whether the universe is deterministic or not. The introduction of undetermined (i.e. random) outcomes does not magically allow for free will. I don't even know how one would properly define free will and think that it is not a coherent notion.
For example, momentum is in principle conserved, but a particle will in general end up in a quantum superposition of many different momentum states (it cannot have an absolutely sharp momentum because of the Heisenberg principle). When one then measures this momentum, it is a matter of chance which one of the possible values in the superposition one finds. In the Copenhagen interpretation, this choice is indeed not determined by anything.
My 2c -
Free will however is imho an illusion no matter whether the universe is deterministic or not. The introduction of undetermined (i.e. random) outcomes does not magically allow for free will. I don't even know how one would properly define free will and think that it is not a coherent notion.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
