I did used to be atheist and I am no longer atheist at all
but I wouldn't actually describe myself as "spiritual"
Oh ok.
I'd like to say I'm spiritual at times, but then people seem to imagine that being spiritual entails burning incense and chanting or something.
Tweaked_Bat_ on
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Tossrocktoo weird to livetoo rare to dieRegistered Userregular
edited August 2009
by the age of ten I'd independently arrived at the concept of Laplace's daemon (only realized through the conceit of a super-fast computer) and from that strict determinism. Later, I realized that such a computer would be impossible because to store information about the position/velocity of every particle, the computer would need to have more atoms than exist in the universe; sort of a variation on the "map the size of the country itself" thought problem, and concluded that (my conception of) Laplace's demon was impossible.
When I found out that the argument was a known thing, I was sort of disappointed, but also sort of relieved.
Personally, I'd like to believe that there is some quantum magic happening in the brain and consciousness that allows free will, but as an empiricist, I have to conclude that the universe is, on the whole, at best almost entirely deterministic. Kind of depressing, but at least it absolves me of all personal responsibility!
And that's the story of my relationship with determinism.
by the age of ten I'd independently arrived at the concept of Laplace's daemon (only realized through the conceit of a super-fast computer) and from that strict determinism. Later, I realized that such a computer would be impossible because to store information about the position/velocity of every particle, the computer would need to have more atoms than exist in the universe; sort of a variation on the "map the size of the country itself" thought problem, and concluded that (my conception of) Laplace's demon was impossible.
When I found out that the argument was a known thing, I was sort of disappointed, but also sort of relieved.
Personally, I'd like to believe that there is some quantum magic happening in the brain and consciousness that allows free will, but as an empiricist, I have to conclude that the universe is, on the whole, at best almost entirely deterministic. Kind of depressing, but at least it absolves me of all personal responsibility!
And that's the story of my relationship with determinism.
Why does being an empiricist lead you to being deterministic?
Personally, I'd like to believe that there is some quantum magic happening in the brain and consciousness that allows free will, but as an empiricist, I have to conclude that the universe is, on the whole, at best almost entirely deterministic. Kind of depressing, but at least it absolves me of all personal responsibility!
And that's the story of my relationship with determinism.
by the age of ten I'd independently arrived at the concept of Laplace's daemon (only realized through the conceit of a super-fast computer) and from that strict determinism. Later, I realized that such a computer would be impossible because to store information about the position/velocity of every particle, the computer would need to have more atoms than exist in the universe; sort of a variation on the "map the size of the country itself" thought problem, and concluded that (my conception of) Laplace's demon was impossible.
When I found out that the argument was a known thing, I was sort of disappointed, but also sort of relieved.
Personally, I'd like to believe that there is some quantum magic happening in the brain and consciousness that allows free will, but as an empiricist, I have to conclude that the universe is, on the whole, at best almost entirely deterministic. Kind of depressing, but at least it absolves me of all personal responsibility!
And that's the story of my relationship with determinism.
Why does being an empiricist lead you to being deterministic?
So I was kinda wondering about that night, and I talked to her about it. I was the drunk one, and she was just a bit buzzed, that and she said we weren't sleeping together tonight because she wanted to tease me.
by the age of ten I'd independently arrived at the concept of Laplace's daemon (only realized through the conceit of a super-fast computer) and from that strict determinism. Later, I realized that such a computer would be impossible because to store information about the position/velocity of every particle, the computer would need to have more atoms than exist in the universe; sort of a variation on the "map the size of the country itself" thought problem, and concluded that (my conception of) Laplace's demon was impossible.
When I found out that the argument was a known thing, I was sort of disappointed, but also sort of relieved.
Personally, I'd like to believe that there is some quantum magic happening in the brain and consciousness that allows free will, but as an empiricist, I have to conclude that the universe is, on the whole, at best almost entirely deterministic. Kind of depressing, but at least it absolves me of all personal responsibility!
And that's the story of my relationship with determinism.
Why does being an empiricist lead you to being deterministic?
because evidence shows that with increasing refinements in precision of measurement, increasingly accurate predictions can be made about the future
sure, you can waffle about Heisenberg uncertainty and quantum decoherence, but on a macro scale, ie, the world we live in, classical, predictable physical processes rule our existence. With a sufficiently powerful computer and sufficiently good input data, you could make highly accurate predictions of any physical process, which, as far as science can tell, includes human brain functioning. It's not as strong as strict determinism, but it's pretty close.
Posts
Is this a joke post or real post?
half and half
I did used to be atheist and I am no longer atheist at all
but I wouldn't actually describe myself as "spiritual"
Hi guys, hows it been?
Oh ok.
I'd like to say I'm spiritual at times, but then people seem to imagine that being spiritual entails burning incense and chanting or something.
When I found out that the argument was a known thing, I was sort of disappointed, but also sort of relieved.
Personally, I'd like to believe that there is some quantum magic happening in the brain and consciousness that allows free will, but as an empiricist, I have to conclude that the universe is, on the whole, at best almost entirely deterministic. Kind of depressing, but at least it absolves me of all personal responsibility!
And that's the story of my relationship with determinism.
now I care only for Sprite™ Cola
Pretty much my experience. I'm glad I wasn't raised in a religious family; I like that I wasn't pressured into anything.
I am interested in your newsletter, for I too wish to be absolved of all personal responsibilty.
Where do I send the cheque to and how do I get started?
Carl Sagan spiritual
It's a really great set of beliefs
lmao
For just 3 easy payments of all your money, you too can be free of the burden of choice!
I have only known jigrah to be a gentleman and a scholar, and I am appalled by these baseless accusations.
Why does being an empiricist lead you to being deterministic?
So I was kinda wondering about that night, and I talked to her about it. I was the drunk one, and she was just a bit buzzed, that and she said we weren't sleeping together tonight because she wanted to tease me.
because evidence shows that with increasing refinements in precision of measurement, increasingly accurate predictions can be made about the future
sure, you can waffle about Heisenberg uncertainty and quantum decoherence, but on a macro scale, ie, the world we live in, classical, predictable physical processes rule our existence. With a sufficiently powerful computer and sufficiently good input data, you could make highly accurate predictions of any physical process, which, as far as science can tell, includes human brain functioning. It's not as strong as strict determinism, but it's pretty close.
Your continued payment of Entropy qualifies you as a premium gold member of Life, signing you up for a chance to win FABULOUS PRIZES!
Well I guess I am just not for you.
"the most flabbergasting instance of the fallacy of changing the subject to be encountered anywhere in the complete history of sophistry"
Working on it, shes a bit out of my league financially but maybe I can just charm her out of high class living.