[thechainsaw]

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Lots of people ask me about this. Do humans have free will?

Well if you are going to discuss this question rigorously, it is imperative that you define what you mean by "free will" in very precise technical terms. On the other hand, even though it might be very difficult to come up with this technical, precise definition, the fact is that free will is a lot like what pornography was to that judge. "I know it when I see it".

I'm pretty sure that I have the jist of a proof that free will exists. Intuitively I am almost certain of it. But to turn this general idea into a rigorous proof would probably require a Godel type logician. Mere hi fallooin philosophers are probably not smart enough. I might be able to do it myself but I have got a poker tournament to deal with.

Anyway, it seems to me that somewhere out there in logicland, a proof of free will can be constructed from the simple fact that PEOPLE WONDER (AND DISCUSS) WHETHER THEY HAVE FREE WILL.

If Bertrand Russell were alive, I am almost sure he could elaborate.

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fyp

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Interesting that you correct the spelling of the lesser mathematician, and not that of the greater.

Nice question, David.

"Free will" cannot be proven. Counter-example as follows. Assume the world is deterministic, then all our actions are 100% predictable, therefore free will can not exist. QED.

As a side note, the "illusion" of free will can exist. And by the same token, a computer or any finite state machine can be said to have this illusion free of will.