Some people believe that the laws of chemistry and physics control everything. Does that assumption conclude that people have no choice? How can 'choice' exist in that scenario? Wouldn't all your thoughts be determined by chemical reactions in your brain?
Right or wrong: The laws of science VS Choice
- Thread starter Tash
- Start date
The choice you make is chemical. It's based on what's in your brain, yes. That is free choice, from your point of view.
Sentience isn't chemical, it may come from a chemical process, but sentience itself is not chemical.
What if chemical reactions allow for choice?
------------------------------------------------------------------
What are you talking about? Did your chemistry class teach you that chemicals have a choice as to whether they will react with one another?
And what is 'Sentience' ????
------------------------------------------------------------------
What are you talking about? Did your chemistry class teach you that chemicals have a choice as to whether they will react with one another?
And what is 'Sentience' ????
EDIT: To sum up all the crap below:
Yes, our responses can be accurately predicted, so we technically do not have "free choice".
However, we can't actually predict them, so it does'nt matter anyway.
Sentience is just a measure of the brain's ability to create new concepts based on old ones. For example, a dog may be farily intelligent, but they cannot come up with the concept that a car may pull a trailer despite the fact that they know full well that a car is something that goes forward, and a trailer is something that needs to be pulled.
The brain's processing ability is based on a complex network of neurons that run via electrochemical processes. What we are is based on said processes; the network that is formed is what differentiates Cab Calloway from Mao. The fact that we cannot accurately predict said processes down to the sub-atomic level (see heisenberg uncertianty principle) means that, even with the same set of stimuli and past experiences, our responses may vary, if only very slightly.
(In other words, if you ask someone to pick a number between 1 and 5, they might pick 2 or 3; it's not entirely possible to calculate it exactly.)
Of course, if you had a computer of infinite size and exact data of the positions of the protons, neutrons, and electrons within the atoms that make up a brain, it might be possible to predict what we do. However, such a computer would have to be larger than the universe itself, so that's not really a possibility.
Yes, our responses can be accurately predicted, so we technically do not have "free choice".
However, we can't actually predict them, so it does'nt matter anyway.
Sentience is just a measure of the brain's ability to create new concepts based on old ones. For example, a dog may be farily intelligent, but they cannot come up with the concept that a car may pull a trailer despite the fact that they know full well that a car is something that goes forward, and a trailer is something that needs to be pulled.
The brain's processing ability is based on a complex network of neurons that run via electrochemical processes. What we are is based on said processes; the network that is formed is what differentiates Cab Calloway from Mao. The fact that we cannot accurately predict said processes down to the sub-atomic level (see heisenberg uncertianty principle) means that, even with the same set of stimuli and past experiences, our responses may vary, if only very slightly.
(In other words, if you ask someone to pick a number between 1 and 5, they might pick 2 or 3; it's not entirely possible to calculate it exactly.)
Of course, if you had a computer of infinite size and exact data of the positions of the protons, neutrons, and electrons within the atoms that make up a brain, it might be possible to predict what we do. However, such a computer would have to be larger than the universe itself, so that's not really a possibility.
Interesting. You HAD to respond the way you did to this question. You had no choice. Wow. That really takes away all meaning to life, doesn't it?
Comes down to religious/philosophical belief whether humans have something more them chemicals, some would say yes, some no.
But then he can't be all knowing, since if we are free to do what we choose, God cannot know ahead of time.
BTW, I believe that math/physics/chemistry can explain everything that happens, but they don't have any control over anything.
Judging from your signature on "Sin" and "Virtue" - you are obviously looking for some meaning in life. - Or maybe the chemistry in your brain made you write it.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 22K
-
News NVIDIA and Intel to Develop AI Infrastructure and Personal Computing Products- Started by poke01
- Replies: 384
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
Facebook
Twitter