RE: copy method important?

From: Brent Meeker <meekerdb.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2005 19:47:03 -0000

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Norman Samish [mailto:ncsamish.domain.name.hidden]
>Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2005 11:20 PM
>To: everything-list.domain.name.hidden
>Subject: Re: copy method important?
>
>
>Hal,
> Isn't it possible that decision processes of the brain, hence
>consciousness, DOES depend critically on quantum states?
> My understanding of the workings of the brain is that my action, whether
>thought or deed, is determined by whether or not certain neurons fire. This
>depends on many other neurons. So the brain can be in a state of delicate
>balance, where it could be impossible to predict whether or not the neuron
>fires.
> We all have to make decisions where the pluses apparently equal the
>minuses. It would take very little to tip the balance one way or the other.
>Perhaps, at the deepest level, the route we take depends on whether an
>electron has left or right polarization, or some other quantum property -
>which we agree can't be measured.
> If this is true, then perhaps Free Will (or at least behavior that is,
>in principle, unpredictable) does exist.
>Norman


Certainly the processes of the brain might be influenced this way or that by
random events; but as Tegmark showed the randomness from the environment (i.e.
thermal random motion) is orders of magnitude higher than the intrinsic quantum
randomness. So you don't need to posit quantum randomness to avoid the
predicament of Buridan's ass.

Brent Meeker
Received on Sat Jun 18 2005 - 23:39:46 PDT