this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2023
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The article just says we don't have free will over and over again, but doesn't explain why that would be the case or what research has been done to back it up. Instead just says this dude wrote a book.
It has a paragraph with the explanation: Basically he says our behaviors are driven by our brain chemistry, genetics, and biases formed by prior events. Every decision we make is a culmination of those things. We think we're in control, but we're really just following a pre-ordained script.
Can't decide if I'm onboard with that. Definitely not onboard with letting criminals off the hook for bad deeds. If your "brain script" leads you to kill, you just need to be removed from society. Sorry.
There's always been one piece of this that has bugged me. I'd like to hear - from someone who is familiar enough with both neurons and quantum theory - an explanation on why thoughts are physically too big to be influenced by quantum randomness.
Very back-of-envelop calculation:
The quantum scale is characterized by an action comparable to the Planck constant, hbar=6.6x10^-16^ eV s. A quick wikipedia search tells us that the typical electric impulse needs at least 25 mV (from -70 mV in the resting state to -55 mV in the threshold), and lasts around 1 ms, giving an action of 2.5x10^-5^ eV s, which is 300 billion times larger that the quantum noise.
Well, that's simultaneously both very enlightening and kind of depressing. Thanks for spreading the knowledge.