lolOriginally Posted by Doc Alan
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure
But seriously Alan, I used to have good grounds for a world view that allowed the illusion of free will in a predestined individually threaded reality and oddly enough that was based on probabilities and probability theory.
The reason I am no longer so sure, is partly that the arrogance and certainty of youth has worn off over the years and also I have watched with fascination the developments in cosmology and fundamental physics which have extended many theories in extremely unforeseen directions and also closed off many interpretations that were considered pretty much dead certs only a couple of decades ago.
From a purely human perspective there are experiments in cognition that have shown actions and decisions being taken by people prior to conscious awareness of said actions, so does that imply destiny and denial of free will or not?
Perhaps self awareness is just an illusion, an emergent property of the physical organisation of an interconnected network of structures we call neurones, although personally I think it is more complex than that
The simple fact that the universe is capable of supporting what goes on inside my head, i.e. my personal experience of reality, is a quite staggering thought.... when you think about it deeply enough
The problem with discussing conciousness and free will is that one always ends up with tautologies.
Destiny likewise being caught up in a human interpretation of reality will also largely result in tautological arguments.
By the way Alan there is always the probability that any one of us could find ourselves in a universe where we personally keep lucking out and new medical advances extend our lifespan just before our time is due to expire, ultimately that kind of evolution may probably lead to transfer of conciousness and experience to self replicating machines
The ultimate expiry date for all of us is the death of this specific universe and the way that happens depends on the precise amount of matter that exists right now
As a side note look at today's announcement of Vitamin B's effect on Alzheimer's patients, now that was a bit unexpected was it not?
Still a bit early though as I dare say there need to be many more studies done that confirm this finding but it is very interesting for all us oldies and I guess in particular for a Mr Terry Pratchett, a wonderful mind, who suffers from the early stages of this horrible disease.
Regards the 100% certainty that you will die one day?
It ain't over till the fat lady sings sir and even then you wont be around to know you were right.
x -> x tautology
(fat lady sings -> won't be around, my blah blah blah
Jim
P.S. Destiny can be very very painful.
My personal view?
It is destiny when one is optimistic about the future and about the results of past events. It is fate when you are depressed about the terrible things that have happened to you and the future is not clear.
Right now my future and my children's future is not clear. :(
