LINK If you knew everything, could you predict anything? A thought experiment | Aeon Videos
FTA: In this video from Wi-Phi or Wireless Philosophy, the English philosopher Richard Holton, formerly of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and now at the University of Cambridge, outlines the two problems often used to argue that free will doesn’t exist. The first says that, if the laws of physics are fixed, all our choices must be predetermined. The second holds that, with enough computing power and knowledge about how the Universe works, someone could theoretically peer into the future to see the predestined outcomes of our lives – which would also mean we’re not free.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Of course you could predict anything and a bookie would probably give you odds on your prediction being correct. eg if your prediction was that Man City,Liverpool or Spurs will win the English Premier league this year the odds would be very short but if your prediction was that non league Barnet are going to win the FA cup the odds would be much longer.
With powerful computers and more information we can make informed decisions. eg weather forecasting is much more accurate these days but only for a few days ahead.
I think the learned professor is rambling. What about chaos theory?. The complexity is such that even the most powerful computer could only make a rough guess at future events, After all it is only basing future forecsats on historical events.
As for free will. I believe it does exist but only up to a point. We are at the mercy of our upbringing, our current environment and beliefs which must colour any decision made.
Moravian
Level 8
Jan 8, 2019
1
That guy in example #2 needs to be disappeared immediately.
Spinliesel
Level 9
Jan 7, 2019
1
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