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If We Have Free Will, Then So Do Electrons
snahgle writes "Mathematicians John Conway (inventor of the Game of Life) and Simon Kochen of Princeton University have proven that if human experimenters demonstrate 'free will' in choosing what measurements to take on a particle, then the axioms of quantum mechanics require that the free will property be available to the particles measured, or to the universe as a whole. Conway is giving a series of lectures on the 'Free Will Theorem' and its ramifications over the next month at Princeton. A followup article strengthening the theory (PDF) was published last month in Notices of the AMS." Update: 03/19 14:20 GMT by KD : jamie points out that we discussed this theorem last year, before the paper had been published.
The universe really IS out to get me!
[Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
Then that means that they can impose their will on other particles. In short, one will will the will of particles to impose your will to will other particles in your will to your will.
So what you're saying is that everything I've screwed up on has really been my fault?
It's John Calvin.
No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
Someone was sure to arrive at this conclusion.
They changed the outcome by measuring it!
Speaking of Adams, a quote from TFA: "Conway is set on explaining to the University community and the public over six weeks the tenets of their 'Free Will Theorem'." 6 x 7days = 42, spooky huh?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
I *knew* the universe was out to get me.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice!
If electrons have free will, we can hold them responsible for their actions. If an electron does something bad we can punish it.
Scientists should stay a mile away from stuff that is, at its heart, a moral question.
Of course, you couldn't help but say that.
"Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgement." Job 32:9
I have no choice but to believe that I have free will.
So I would prefer this title: "If electrons do not have free will, then neither do we."
So glad other people are noticing it too .. ... Something to do with this http://www.google.com/trends?q=slashdot.org perhaps ? Guess it's the beginning of the end then. Slashdot is dying, and google trends confirms it.
If there is free will, then there also is the free will NOT to have free will. If there is no way NOT to have free will, then free will is not really free will.
The fact that people will remove their hand and not keep it there is the prove of lack of free will for that specific situation. As NOT having the free will NOT to listen to your free will, it proves that free will does not exist.
Now my head hurts.
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
If I don't have free will, I can't help worrying about it.
Where does this theory make accommodation for the fact that it's Turtles, all the way down?
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
Why worry about crap that better minds than me have been stumbling over for millennia.
Becasue if I'm wrong then I don't have a choice in the matter anyway.
Your diatribe is an artifact of your limits of perception
Hey, Muad'dib, what's going on? How's the Jihad going?
My computer knows when it's on, when it's sleeping, and when it's about to turn off. Does it have free will too?
It's a spicy proposition, at the moment...
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."