The Problem of Free Will Minds & Machines

Scientific Determinism Scientific determinism is the claim that everything physical is bound by the laws of physics and that, as such, if some physical event happens … it could not not have happened!

Laplace’s Demon The mathematician Laplace stated that an infinitely smart entity could, knowing the complete state of the universe at time t, predict exactly what is going to happen. Cassandra!

What if Materialism is True? What if our thoughts and subsequent decisions are all the result of neuro- chemical (i.e. physical) processes … and all those processes are scientifically determined? … then it seems all our decisions are determined too. Whatever I do … I could not have done otherwise!

Argument against Materialism from Free Will Determinism is true If determinism and materialism are both true, then we don’t have free will We do have free will Therefore, materialism is false

The Problem of Free Will The Problem of Free Will is that each of the following 3 statements seem true, but they can’t all be true at the same time: –We have free will –Determinism is true –If determinism, then no free will

Positions There are 3 main positions on the problem of free will: –Hard Determinism: Determinism is true, and hence we don’t have free will. We think we have free will, but this is just an illusion. –Libertarianism: We have free will, and hence determinism must be false. –Soft Determinism: we have free will, and determinism is true. This assumes Compatibilism: Having free will is perfectly compatible with determinism.

Determinism and Fatalism Fatalism: I can go to RPI, or I can go to RIT …. but somehow I will end up with the same partner! Determinism: If I go to RPI … I could not possibly have gone to RIT!

Indeterminism OK, but what about Quantum Indeterminism? First, is quantum indeterminism a fact? Second, even if quantum indeterminism is true, we may still effectively have neural determinism. Third, even if we have neural indeterminism, how does that give me my free will back?!

Does Dualism Save Free Will? Only if non-physical events can cause physical events But now there are two options: –The interactions between the physical and the non-physical are systematic … so we’re back to determinism: I could not have done otherwise! –The interactions between the physical and non- physical are not systematic … so either my mental decisions are random, or I can’t control how they translate into my actions.

Compatibilism How can free will be compatible with determinism? Maybe some of my actions are determined (e.g. unconscious ones), while others are done by my free will. –But that would go against determinism: determinism says that *all* of my actions are determined

Compulsive Behavior Maybe an interesting and meaningful distinction can be made between ‘compulsive behavior’ and ‘free behavior’. Both are determined, but only the latter are ‘free’

Free Will is Making Choices? Maybe to have free will is to be able to make choices The outcome of the choice is determined, but there is still a ‘choice-making’ process we can point to E.g. Chess Computer

Quiz 1 Everything is determined, so we have no free will This position is called: A. Hard Determinism B. Soft Determinism C. Fatalism D. Libertarianism

Quiz 2 Which of the following diagrams, showing the possible ways the world can proceed through time, captures Determinism? t0t0 tntn A B C