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Is free will real?
RE: Is free will real?
(December 29, 2014 at 4:48 am)robvalue Wrote: To take a sideswipe at this, I wonder what are the possible gains of scientific investigation of "how" we make decisions? Apart from it being very interesting, of course.

I'm not trying to be dismissive, I find it a fascinating subject, but I'm a bit vague about what practical uses any conclusion could have. Any thoughts?
I can brainstorm some.

One would be to improve the response time of prosthetics. If a computer can know what you're planning to do before you are consciously aware of it, it will guide movements much more smoothly. Another would be with dieting, quitting smoking, etc. If you can understand better at which level a supposedly free-willed person continually "fails" to behave in a healthy way, you have a better chance of identifying possible solutions.

There are possible legal ramifications. If free will is considered an illusion, then medical treatments might supplant punishment-- and this trend could lead to improvements in brain surgery and chemical therapies.

Another implication would be in establishing laws for the treatment of AI devices. Are they "conscious?" Should they be prevented from acting with "free will," if such is found to be just a predictable response to environmental stimuli?
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Messages In This Thread
Is free will real? - by The_greatest_river - December 15, 2014 at 4:15 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Tartarus Sauce - December 15, 2014 at 4:46 am
RE: Is free will real? - by ManMachine - December 15, 2014 at 5:22 am
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 15, 2014 at 1:20 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Anomalocaris - December 15, 2014 at 1:34 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 15, 2014 at 1:40 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 15, 2014 at 1:46 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 16, 2014 at 9:40 am
RE: Is free will real? - by ManMachine - December 16, 2014 at 10:58 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 15, 2014 at 5:50 am
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 15, 2014 at 6:08 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 15, 2014 at 6:23 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Tonus - December 15, 2014 at 6:25 am
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 15, 2014 at 6:33 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 15, 2014 at 6:36 am
RE: Is free will real? - by ManMachine - December 15, 2014 at 6:38 am
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 15, 2014 at 6:42 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 15, 2014 at 9:45 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 15, 2014 at 9:57 am
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 15, 2014 at 10:05 am
RE: Is free will real? - by FatAndFaithless - December 15, 2014 at 10:15 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 15, 2014 at 11:12 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - December 15, 2014 at 12:55 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 15, 2014 at 1:34 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 16, 2014 at 12:01 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Anomalocaris - December 15, 2014 at 1:08 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by comet - December 15, 2014 at 9:09 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 16, 2014 at 12:31 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 16, 2014 at 9:17 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - December 16, 2014 at 11:29 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 16, 2014 at 12:21 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 16, 2014 at 11:33 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - December 16, 2014 at 12:33 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 16, 2014 at 11:36 am
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 16, 2014 at 11:48 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 16, 2014 at 11:56 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 16, 2014 at 12:35 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - December 16, 2014 at 1:14 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 16, 2014 at 12:48 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 16, 2014 at 1:17 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 16, 2014 at 1:19 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 16, 2014 at 1:22 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 16, 2014 at 1:28 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 16, 2014 at 1:32 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 16, 2014 at 1:34 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - December 16, 2014 at 3:54 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 16, 2014 at 4:28 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 16, 2014 at 7:34 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by MysticKnight - December 20, 2014 at 1:24 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 20, 2014 at 1:47 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 20, 2014 at 10:15 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 20, 2014 at 8:37 am
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 20, 2014 at 1:40 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by MysticKnight - December 20, 2014 at 8:18 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 21, 2014 at 1:07 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 21, 2014 at 4:20 am
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 21, 2014 at 10:34 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 21, 2014 at 10:49 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 20, 2014 at 8:25 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 20, 2014 at 8:59 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 21, 2014 at 10:56 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 21, 2014 at 11:08 am
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 21, 2014 at 11:19 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 21, 2014 at 1:34 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 22, 2014 at 5:17 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 29, 2014 at 8:30 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 22, 2014 at 5:56 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 22, 2014 at 6:50 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 22, 2014 at 9:09 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 22, 2014 at 7:57 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 22, 2014 at 8:41 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Zen Badger - December 22, 2014 at 8:01 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 22, 2014 at 8:10 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 22, 2014 at 9:18 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 22, 2014 at 6:38 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 22, 2014 at 10:53 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Elskidor - December 22, 2014 at 8:55 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 22, 2014 at 11:06 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 22, 2014 at 8:48 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 22, 2014 at 9:25 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Angrboda - December 22, 2014 at 9:16 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Dystopia - December 22, 2014 at 9:38 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 22, 2014 at 10:21 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Brian37 - December 22, 2014 at 10:30 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 22, 2014 at 11:16 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 23, 2014 at 10:06 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 23, 2014 at 12:12 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 23, 2014 at 7:15 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by abaris - December 23, 2014 at 7:23 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 23, 2014 at 9:24 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 24, 2014 at 8:05 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 24, 2014 at 12:43 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 24, 2014 at 2:21 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 24, 2014 at 4:43 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 24, 2014 at 7:56 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 24, 2014 at 4:54 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 24, 2014 at 9:21 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 24, 2014 at 10:01 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 25, 2014 at 1:42 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 25, 2014 at 1:40 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 25, 2014 at 7:19 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 25, 2014 at 10:23 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 26, 2014 at 4:40 am
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 26, 2014 at 11:38 am
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 26, 2014 at 12:28 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 25, 2014 at 9:19 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 25, 2014 at 1:04 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 25, 2014 at 10:04 am
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 25, 2014 at 11:04 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 25, 2014 at 1:16 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 25, 2014 at 3:27 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 25, 2014 at 1:15 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 25, 2014 at 1:30 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 26, 2014 at 8:54 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 26, 2014 at 12:18 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 26, 2014 at 9:07 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 26, 2014 at 9:13 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 26, 2014 at 6:20 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 26, 2014 at 7:29 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 26, 2014 at 7:04 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 26, 2014 at 9:15 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 26, 2014 at 11:34 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 27, 2014 at 2:57 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 27, 2014 at 3:44 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 27, 2014 at 4:17 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 27, 2014 at 3:47 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 27, 2014 at 8:04 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 27, 2014 at 9:49 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 27, 2014 at 10:28 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 27, 2014 at 10:36 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 28, 2014 at 12:53 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 27, 2014 at 10:58 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 26, 2014 at 10:26 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 27, 2014 at 12:42 am
RE: Is free will real? - by vorlon13 - December 27, 2014 at 1:06 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 27, 2014 at 1:20 am
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 27, 2014 at 3:09 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 27, 2014 at 9:44 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 27, 2014 at 7:58 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by A Fisherman - December 27, 2014 at 10:41 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Alex K - December 27, 2014 at 11:01 am
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - December 27, 2014 at 1:24 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 27, 2014 at 10:49 am
RE: Is free will real? - by A Fisherman - December 27, 2014 at 11:05 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 27, 2014 at 4:51 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 27, 2014 at 4:37 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by vorlon13 - December 27, 2014 at 5:49 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by MysticKnight - December 27, 2014 at 7:43 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 27, 2014 at 8:03 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 27, 2014 at 9:45 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 27, 2014 at 11:31 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 28, 2014 at 9:28 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 28, 2014 at 1:34 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 28, 2014 at 2:41 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 28, 2014 at 6:55 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 28, 2014 at 8:03 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Angrboda - December 29, 2014 at 1:27 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 29, 2014 at 2:00 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Angrboda - December 29, 2014 at 5:20 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - January 3, 2015 at 7:30 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - January 3, 2015 at 10:50 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - January 4, 2015 at 1:44 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - January 4, 2015 at 5:27 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - January 5, 2015 at 9:06 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - January 5, 2015 at 9:39 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - January 5, 2015 at 8:13 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 29, 2014 at 4:48 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 29, 2014 at 5:12 am
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 29, 2014 at 5:23 am
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - December 29, 2014 at 6:54 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - December 29, 2014 at 10:30 am
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - December 29, 2014 at 7:12 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 29, 2014 at 10:24 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - December 29, 2014 at 12:34 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - December 29, 2014 at 6:45 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Jolnir - January 2, 2015 at 8:44 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - January 2, 2015 at 9:18 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - January 2, 2015 at 10:21 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - January 3, 2015 at 12:44 am
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - January 2, 2015 at 10:36 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by IATIA - January 3, 2015 at 9:37 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by h4ym4n - January 4, 2015 at 7:11 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - January 4, 2015 at 2:00 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - January 4, 2015 at 3:40 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - January 4, 2015 at 3:47 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - January 4, 2015 at 7:26 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Mudhammam - January 4, 2015 at 7:36 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by bennyboy - January 4, 2015 at 9:40 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by tantric - January 4, 2015 at 6:37 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - January 5, 2015 at 9:47 am
RE: Is free will real? - by robvalue - January 5, 2015 at 9:50 am
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - January 5, 2015 at 8:19 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - January 5, 2015 at 8:22 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by The Grand Nudger - January 5, 2015 at 8:24 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Whateverist - January 5, 2015 at 8:31 pm
RE: Is free will real? - by Neo-Scholastic - January 6, 2015 at 9:57 am



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