On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 15:30:40 -0500 (EST) Loren Haarsma
<lhaarsma@calvin.edu> writes:
>
>
> I have two general questions for the group on this topic.
>
> If the laws of physics are fully deterministic, this is often
> thought of
> as being antithetical to traditional notions of human free will
> (although
> this is open for debate). We might FEEL like we consciously choose
> to do
> something, but our choices are REALLY determined by the laws which
> govern
> the motions of fundamental particles --- perhaps even in some cases
> by
> those undetectable but nevertheless deterministic quantum hidden
> variables.
> If physical determinism does overthrow traditional notions of free
> will,
> this is often thought of as being antithetical to Christian theology
> ---
> although this also is open for debate.
>
I think there is a problem with the notion that science is deterministic,
at least in the way the assumption is fleshed out. There is a little
matter of deterministic chaos which arises very easily from combining
linear equations. And now mathematicians are working with indeterministic
complexity as part of the study of complexity theory, which includes what
physics recognizes as deterministic chaos.
In addition, what is usually discussed in terms of free will and human
responsibility must not be confused with indeterminism, a lack of
causality, or strict determinism, which runs into problems with
deterministic chaos. Freedom requires self-determination, which at its
most basic means that the personal decision alters the causal chain. This
holds even if the choice is forced. That is, one may have to choose
between A and not-A; A and B; A, B and neither, etc.
By the way, this is universally assumed. No materialist allows that
external forces produced a choice of a specific theory, for these forces
are not rational. The theory has to be chosen because it is rationally
supported, for human beings are free to act irrationally or
nonrationally. The claim that all human actions are determined may be
classed as self-stultifying.
Dave
Received on Tue Mar 22 23:01:28 2005
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