Q&A: Free Will Is Built Into Matter
Free Will Is Built Into Matter
Question
Hello Rabbi,
If the brain really is so complex that it can generate emotions, etc., etc.,
that would mean that the capacity of the whole is indeed essentially different from the capacity of the individual part. It isn’t just a quantitative addition. Could one then say that the brain might even be able to generate will? Even though each individual component of the whole is incapable of doing so? And because the elementary particles of physics are purposive, could that explain that maybe will exists? Could a significant quantity of purposive particles create will?
[I’ve finished my messages for today] 🙂
Answer
See here:
https://mikyab.net/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%9E%D7%91%D7%98-%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%98%D7%AA%D7%99-%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%A9-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%9F/
Discussion on Answer
The purpose determines my decision?! And if it only influences it, then you still can’t ask why I decided x and not y, and the original question returns..
The purpose does not determine my decision. I determine it in order to achieve the purpose I chose.
And why did I determine it? Was I compelled? If not, the original question returns..
As I said, I referred you to a detailed explanation in the book (and probably also in the article). You are looking for causes for that determination, when there are none. On the other hand, you assume that if there are no causes then it is an uncontrolled process (indeterministic, arbitrary). But that is not so. Choice is a third mechanism. That is begging the question, as I explained there.
Someone asked:
If the will is free, then it is not part of the system of cause and effect, so one cannot ask a person why he chose x and not y. If so, how can one command a person to choose something?
My answer:
One can ask why and receive an answer in terms of purpose, not in terms of cause. I think this was explained in the above article, and if not, then in my book The Science of Freedom.