Re: [asa] God, Chance and Purpose

I think this analogy / experiment breaks down at the start. The computer
model "predicts" David's choices because the external observable variables
built into the model determine David's choice. Thus, the hypo assumes that
observable inputs into David's choices are deterministic, and that David
therefore has no free will. Given a set of inputs, David's "decision" is
just a matter of calculus. This ignores the possibility that David has some
unobservable "mind" or "will" that can supervene to some extent on external
causes and make free choices. An internal, unobservable, supervenient
"mind" or "will" would mean that it would be impossible to build a computer
model that is anything more than probabilistic.

But God is unlike the supercomputer modeling program because God is not
limited to the observation of external causes. God can get "inside" a
person's "mind" or "will" and know this additional aspect of the causal
chain. (Note that this is basically Augustine's defense of human free will
in regard to God's foreknowledge). God knows the choices a person will make
not only because He can do the calculus of the influence of external
factors, but also because He knows the individual person's supervenient will
intimately.

On Sat, Jun 7, 2008 at 9:37 PM, Brian Harper <harper.10@osu.edu> wrote:

>
> Okay, let me propose a thought experiment. Suppose you and I got together
> and observed David over a long period of time. We took our observations and,
> with the help of a developed model and a super computer, were able predict
> every thing that David did. What he ate for breakfast, what color shirt he
> wore on Tuesday etc. etc. What would you conclude about David? That he has
> free will?
>
>
> On Jun 6, 2008, at 10:27 AM, David Campbell wrote:
>
> If I ask Timothy (who is 3) if he wants a piece of chocolate or a
>
> piece of lettuce, I know what his answer will be (at least if he is
>
> paying attention), even though he is free to choose.
>
>
> =
>
>

-- 
David W. Opderbeck
Associate Professor of Law
Seton Hall University Law School
Gibbons Institute of Law, Science & Technology
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