Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id XAA04382 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sun, 15 Apr 2001 23:00:01 +0100 Message-ID: <001901c0c5f6$ef74a680$5eaefea9@rcn.com> From: "Aaron Agassi" <agassi@erols.com> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> References: <3AD9CB10.32613.3A51B4@localhost> Subject: Re: Determinism Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 17:56:32 -0400 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4522.1200 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4522.1200 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: <joedees@bellsouth.net>
To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2001 5:23 PM
Subject: Re: Determinism
> On 15 Apr 2001, at 5:42, Aaron Agassi wrote:
>
> > Since I hold Superdeterminism necessary and sufficient for freedom, my
> > position, precisely, is that omniscience would narrow down choices to
> > the one optimal decision. Never the less, this would be, indeed,
> > empowering, of course.
> >
> Such as which one of the two perfectly suited values one should
> use to solve a given quadratic equation? Degrees of perfection;
> hmmm. Perhaps you're ready to count fractal iterations of angels
> on the heads of pins.
>
I have already answered that for you:
An omniscient mathematician would not only have every sufficient answer to
the equation, but would also predict every real world ramification of the
choice. Which value takes up less space on the black board. Which value
helps the best illustration of the principle under examination. Which
response will be deemed cleverest to impress that cute mathematician of the
appropriate sex. And so on.
But if it there ever could be such a situation where further narrowing down
of the correct response would make no difference, then, obviously, that
residual choice which makes no difference would scarcely further empower.
And the choice, however arbitrary, would still be determined, by whatever
criteria of preference or whatever process.
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