This is a tale of free will, and not having it. And because it is a short tale, a digression by way of the toe.
Alternatively, I could begin with the toe. And then digress to free will.
After all, it's up to me.
I have a sore toe. It's my right middle toe, which I injured walking home from the city on Friday in unsuitable shoes. On Saturday, I protected it with a Bandaid.
My tale begins at bedtime. No, just after. I am in bed and ready to fall asleep. Then I remember that I still have the Bandaid on my toe.
I am a person who believes, probably wrongly, that it is better to take a Bandaid off at night to allow the air to perform its healing work. My theory is that no harm will come to the injury in bed.
So, I'm lying in bed, picking at the edges of the Bandaid on my toe. Of course, I don't get anywhere. I can't even find the edge of the Bandaid. After a few more fruitless pickings, I'm
thinking about getting up, finding the nail scissors and snipping the Bandaid off. Then I'm thinking that it doesn't really matter if I don't. Because I don't want to get up out of bed.
Next thing I know, I've turned on the bedside light and I'm standing up looking for my nail scissors. Blow me, I think. Where was my free will in this?
Showing posts with label free will. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free will. Show all posts
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Free Will
So much for Free Will , said Pliny ruefully. Someone else's readiness potential pipped your intention. I really wanted to finish that library book.
Well, it didn't matter all that much to me, I said. I'd finished reading it. Anyway, the issue of Free Will isn't about whether you can do what you want to or not.
Yes it is, said Pliny. It's about whether your actions are predetermined or not. Your action of trying to extend your library book was predetermined by ......wait a minute, I thought you said you'd finished it?
I had. But I hadn't finished my other library book. So I tried to get an extension for them both.
So your action was predetermined by your having not finished another book. And your not being allowed to extend either book was predetermined by someone else having reserved one of them.
No, I was allowed to extend the other book.
Well, lucky you, said Pliny. But the fact remains I have been prevented from reading the last two chapters of that book by the actions of others. There is therefore no such thing as my Free Will in this case.
Yes, I said, that is indisputably true. And the reason is you didn't tell me you were reading it. Has it occurred to you that even though it was due back yesterday we could have kept it for another 2 weeks without having to pay a fine?
Can we phone the library then, and ask to have it back?
No, predetermination doesn't work in reverse.
Well, it didn't matter all that much to me, I said. I'd finished reading it. Anyway, the issue of Free Will isn't about whether you can do what you want to or not.
Yes it is, said Pliny. It's about whether your actions are predetermined or not. Your action of trying to extend your library book was predetermined by ......wait a minute, I thought you said you'd finished it?
I had. But I hadn't finished my other library book. So I tried to get an extension for them both.
So your action was predetermined by your having not finished another book. And your not being allowed to extend either book was predetermined by someone else having reserved one of them.
No, I was allowed to extend the other book.
Well, lucky you, said Pliny. But the fact remains I have been prevented from reading the last two chapters of that book by the actions of others. There is therefore no such thing as my Free Will in this case.
Yes, I said, that is indisputably true. And the reason is you didn't tell me you were reading it. Has it occurred to you that even though it was due back yesterday we could have kept it for another 2 weeks without having to pay a fine?
Can we phone the library then, and ask to have it back?
No, predetermination doesn't work in reverse.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Compelling
Compulsory? said Pliny the Elder. Didn't you mean compelling?
No, I meant compulsory. People stopped in their tracks on the pavement. There were people pointing excitedly on seats. A man stopped in front of us and told us that dolphins were amazing creatures. I remember thinking, What am I doing here?
Very existential, remarked Pliny. Do I take it you are not really fond of dolphins?
Not overly, I replied. No more than of tuna. I remember reading once that dolphins were
capable of being rather nasty. Or was it whales?
No, said Pliny, dolphins do sometimes behave badly. I have heard that they kill porpoises and even sometimes kill their own young.
Chacun a son gout, I said philosophically, but the thing is, I wasn't pleased to realise that I felt under a compulsion to stop and watch it play, or try to catch its dinner, or whatever it was doing.
Free will is an illusion, said Pliny, wisely. I have been reading your library book, 13 Things That Don't Make Sense, and one of the Things is free will. They've discovered that our brain gives out readiness signals a good half second before we make a conscious decision to act.
Yes, it makes sense, I said. Otherwise how would we ever get out of bed in the morning? But on the other hand, I wasn't totally convinced that this wipes out free will. It may just be a combination of habit and our brain's efficiency. I'd like to see them test it on a baby.
Good point, said Pliny. By the way, where is that book? I was looking for it this morning.
Oh sorry, I had to take it back to the library, it was overdue.
Couldn't you get an extension?
No, they wouldn't let me, it had already been reserved by someone else.
No, I meant compulsory. People stopped in their tracks on the pavement. There were people pointing excitedly on seats. A man stopped in front of us and told us that dolphins were amazing creatures. I remember thinking, What am I doing here?
Very existential, remarked Pliny. Do I take it you are not really fond of dolphins?
Not overly, I replied. No more than of tuna. I remember reading once that dolphins were
capable of being rather nasty. Or was it whales?
No, said Pliny, dolphins do sometimes behave badly. I have heard that they kill porpoises and even sometimes kill their own young.
Chacun a son gout, I said philosophically, but the thing is, I wasn't pleased to realise that I felt under a compulsion to stop and watch it play, or try to catch its dinner, or whatever it was doing.
Free will is an illusion, said Pliny, wisely. I have been reading your library book, 13 Things That Don't Make Sense, and one of the Things is free will. They've discovered that our brain gives out readiness signals a good half second before we make a conscious decision to act.
Yes, it makes sense, I said. Otherwise how would we ever get out of bed in the morning? But on the other hand, I wasn't totally convinced that this wipes out free will. It may just be a combination of habit and our brain's efficiency. I'd like to see them test it on a baby.
Good point, said Pliny. By the way, where is that book? I was looking for it this morning.
Oh sorry, I had to take it back to the library, it was overdue.
Couldn't you get an extension?
No, they wouldn't let me, it had already been reserved by someone else.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
