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From: unbent@ecsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: Re: replies on freedom - incomprehensible
Message-ID: <3421@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 28-Oct-84 12:30:14 EST
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.3421
Posted: Sun Oct 28 12:30:14 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 30-Oct-84 01:26:30 EST
References: flairvax.799
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	From: baba@flairvax.UUCP (Baba ROM DOS) Fri Oct 26 04:06:06 1984
	(flairvax.799) net.philosophy : replies on freedom - incomprehensible
	Message-ID: <799@flairvax.UUCP>
	.
	.
	.
	If my behavior can be accurately predicted, one of two things must
	 be true:
	either my behavior is deterministic or the predictor has precognition.

	Predictability has rather more to to do with free will than slavery
	 does.
	Knowledge of one's ignorance *does* make one less ignorant.
	.
	.
							Baba

If my behavior can be accurately predicted, that may simply be because, in
certain respects, I am a highly predictable person.  My secretary can
predict, quite accurately, that upon coming into the office I will hang up
my jacket, pour myself a cup of coffee, and go through the day's mail.  Does
she have precognition?  Not that I know of.  Is my behavior "deterministic"?
Maybe -- but its *predictability* isn't what would establish that, if
anything would.  All that the predictability of my behavior shows is (1)
that I have adopted a certain morning *routine*, and (2) that my secretary
is familiar with it.  Whatever else "determinism" requires, it surely
requires that I *couldn't* behave other than I do.  All that predictability
needs, however, is that it be true that I *won't* behave in ways other than
I have on relevantly similar occasions.  For that, it's enough that I be a
creature of habit.

Yours for clearer concepts,       --Jay Rosenberg
				    Dept. of Philosophy
...mcnc!ecsvax!unbent		    Univ. of North Carolina
				    Chapel Hill, NC  27514