(November 27, 2021 at 12:24 pm)polymath257 Wrote:(November 27, 2021 at 12:06 pm)Anomalocaris Wrote: I make no judgements regarding whether that is desirable. I only ask whether that could be true.
regarding both external and internal events affect your decision. does the doc-called internal event truly have any significant freedom to transpire differently resulting in different decisions if all external events remain the same? if not, then there is no real internal events, only intermediate effects of external events.
it is possible the brain magnifies the chaotic nature of how decision responds to subtle changes to external events. but other things can also magnify the chaotic nature of how effects of external events impinges on your brain. Also, a macroscopic chaotic system is still in most cases essentially deterministic.
I *all* external events were *exactly* the same, including *all* events prior to my conception, and *all* events leading up to that decision, then no, I don't think I would make a different decision: I would be exactly the same, with the same desires and beliefs, same opportunities, and same prejudices, and so would *expect* to make the same decision.
If I *could* make a different decision, that would seem quite strange given I would be exactly the same either way.
(November 27, 2021 at 12:15 pm)Anomalocaris Wrote: what meaning is there in “made by me” if there is no possibility of your making a different decision under each circumstance?
That the significant information processing occurred in my brain. In other words, by me.
Once again, is the definition of 'free will' such that it requires the decision be an uncaused cause?
That does seem to go the essence of “will”. Otherwise there seem to fundamentally be no will, much less free will. There is only belated internal perception that an externally initiated process, long underway along a pre-determined trajectory, is nearing an specific type of intermediate point to which we assign arbitrary but ultimately unwarranted significance.
