Free Will or Choice

[Mille Ignis]

Hello everyone. I have decided to make this thread since I saw a thread about free will a little while back. I will try to make this thread as simple as possible so that it can be easy understand.

Fair Warning for all. I have a hard time putting my thoughts on paper, so if things do not make since please tell me so that I can edit it.

Free Will​

Ok, where to begin... Since there is an infinite amount of parallel universes, the probability of you choosing to turn left or right is no longer 50/50, but it is the sum of the two. You turn left and right at the same time (to understand this you will need to have some background knowledge in the Many-Worlds Theory* and Superposition*). Therefor, free will is only an illusion. Whether you go right or left is irrelevant, since the choice you made was already planned out to begin with. Now this theory will only work if parallel universes do exists. The size of the universe doesn't matter since one place in the universe cannot be the exact same as the other. It may seem similar, but it will not be exact.

This is what I believe. Again, it is hard for me to put my ideas on paper, so I am sorry for it being so short, but I didn't want to give to guys a lecture. I am also sorry for any grammar mistakes that may/will appear. Critique this theory as much as you like and post what you believe in (free will or choice).

Many-Worlds Theory*

Spoiler

According to the Many-Worlds theory, for each possible outcome to an action, the world splits into a copy of itself. This is an instantaneous process Everett called decohesion. It's kind of like a choose-your-own-adventure book, but rather than choosing between either exploring the cave or making off with the treasure, the universe splits in two so that each action is taken.
--How Stuff Works

Superposition*

Spoiler

Quantum superposition is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics that holds that a physical system—such as an electron—exists partly in all its particular, theoretically possible states (or, configuration of its properties) simultaneously; but, when measured or observed, it gives a result corresponding to only one of the possible configurations (as described in interpretation of quantum mechanics)
--Wikipedia.

"Now, if you shuffle that deck, there's just so many orderings that can happen. If you shuffle that deck enough times, the orders will have to repeat. Similarly, with an infinite universe and only a finite number of complexions of matter, the way in which matter arranges itself has to repeat."
--Brian Greene

 

[Insidious Smile]

I stoped reading at *since* ...

 

[NStraw]

Is this from elegant universe

 

[Insidious Smile]

What are you smoking ? Batman's crack !?

 

[Mille Ignis]

What are you smoking ? Batman's crack !?

I stoped reading at *since* ...

This form will be a better place if people provide more intelligent feedback as to why you disagree.

 

[drknght]

nah

 

[Aim64C]

One evening, while standing sentry watch and bored out of my mind, I came up with a theory of "Quantum Origins" as a solution to the creationism vs evolution debate.

Basically, I made the observation that there are many cases of irreducible systems in biology and evolution. Just the Polymerase of DNA is mind-bogglingly intertwined with several enzymes and RNA folding sequences that are all interdependent. Further, a number of evolutionary transitions seem to happen in a very eerily efficient and 'directed' way.

This would seem to imply "design" - but all evidence of this design collapses in our real-time experience with natural selection.

Meanwhile, the exact origins of our distant past are increasingly hazy the further back you go. Multiple possibilities exist for the origins of our universe and are capable of generating the same conditions we see, today.

This issue is remarkably similar to the quantum superposition and the odd ability for a "past" to be created from the observation of a single state (see Schrodinger's Cat). In essence - the flaw in our reasoning is assuming that time began at the 'beginning'... or that it began at all. The current observed state has a finite number of previous states that could have preceded it - whether that state existed or not in the past is irrelevant to the current state observed.

This places our past into something of a superposition (or something akin to it). Multiple pasts are possible and indistinct from each other until something comes along to cause decoherence. Due to the nature of QM, some previous states will always remain in a superposition.

This, however, is beneficial. Quantum Computing relies heavily upon the superposition state to run multiple parallel comparisons. The most basic of which is called the "random" (or Quantum) walk. Let's say, for example, we have an electron with multiple paths that it can take through a parallel set of conductors. The electron, in a superposition state, can travel across all available paths and select the path of least resistance to travel.

I contend that there is evidence in our own evolution that points to the same phenomena. "Evolution" was a quantum computational process that allowed multiple possibilities to be evaluated against each other and selected for the most efficient path to obtain what we currently observe. Exactly where "time began" is beyond the scope of the idea - the idea is merely that 'time,' as we know it, began much, much more recently - the more distant past is largely something of an illusion... something that both existed but was not real or defined. Our current existence defined it, and it assumed a state compatible with what we currently experience.

I'll admit that the idea is somewhat abusive and playing fast and loose with QM... but it stands as a very interesting offer. It allows for evolution while leaving the question of "so... what caused us to assume the state we did?" rather open to interpretation.

 

[Ashflura]

Reading all that is a lot of mind boggling.
I respect your intention to come up with something rather interesting. But is it necessary? For all I believe, I believe there's different worlds out there. But not in a manner you describe where there are so many different universes, filled with millions of different options. Rather a world with different creatures.

Even if a parallel of you were to of already turned left, when you decided, would that still not be your own decision? The future is out of your reach. So you not knowing, becomes your decision to keep going and find out what happens.