Q&A: Free Will and Quantum Mechanics
Free Will and Quantum Mechanics
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Rabbi Michael Abraham addressed in his book The Science of Freedom and also on the site (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Af3yk87xR3HWa6-_2ecgwnynUfaJOyTS/view) the question of why quantum mechanics cannot explain free will.
There is a PhD in physics, Rabbi Doron Ledwin, whose expertise is specifically in this mechanics, and he says דווקא that it is possible.
You can see it on YouTube (watch?v=DdoWRPzToag\)
Does Rabbi Ledwin's approach introduce anything new that would require a renewed response from the Rabbi?
Has the Rabbi had occasion to discuss the topic with Rabbi Doron (maybe something new would come of it)?
Best regards, Ehud
Answer
I did have a chance to discuss it with him (he visited me at my home after my book was published, and we dealt with this). Unfortunately, I’m not currently sufficiently immersed in the topic, and the issues are very subtle.
Discussion on Answer
No. I’m fairly convinced that I’m right. He raised an argument that I don’t remember, and on the face of it I didn’t agree with it (as far as I remember, he also partially conceded to me that there is a problem with his argument). But I didn’t get into it in depth, because that would have required me to enter the subject in a very intensive way.
In his book, the Rabbi completely rules out this mechanics as an explanation for free will.
On the other hand, from the Rabbi’s answer here I get the sense that maybe the Rabbi is recalculating his route.
Can the Rabbi just say, without going into detail, whether there is indeed the beginning of some renewed thinking on the subject?