Recently RadRob recommended some readings about the modern philosophy of "Free Will". The materials are quite thoughtful in some parts, but degenerate into mere quibbling in others. Perhaps it could be helpful to list what is known about the key issues, to get a firmer foundation?

In the physical universe:

• Nature seems to obey mathematical laws which often have great predictive power.
• Many of the laws of Nature seem to have probabilistic or random features, especially in the case of quantum mechanics.
• Many of the laws of Nature seem to amplify tiny changes, so infinitesimal variations in conditions cause huge differences after a finite time lapse.
• Many of the laws of Nature seem to be independent of the direction that time flows.

In the subjective universe:

• Minds seem to exist in most humans and perhaps some other creatures.
• Many minds seem to make some choices based on reasons.
• Many people seem to be responsible for many of their actions.
• The past and the future seem quite different.

The clash between these facts about physical and the subjective universes could be at the root of much confusion over "Free Will" ...

^z - 2008-05-31

(correlates: ThingsPeopleAndIdeas, AwesomelySimple, HalfRememberedWorlds, ...)