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From: bwk@mbunix.mitre.org (Barry W. Kort)
Newsgroups: comp.ai
Subject: Re: Free will and responsibility.
Summary: My unpredictable nondeterministic method of making up my mind.
Keywords: Buridan's Ass, Dorothy and the Scarecrow, The Lady or the Tiger?
Message-ID: <53788@linus.UUCP>
Date: 19 May 89 03:13:17 GMT
References: <10333@ihlpb.ATT.COM> <3850@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> <52019@linus.UUCP> <1309@lzfme.att.com> <1966@ucsfcca.ucsf.edu> <528@orawest.UUCP> <1979@ucsfcca.ucsf.edu>
Sender: news@linus.UUCP
Reply-To: bwk@mbunix (Barry Kort)
Organization: The Gallimaufrey, Atsea, UK
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In article <1979@ucsfcca.ucsf.edu> brianc@daedalus.UUCP (Brian Colfer) writes:

>	   1) No one can absolutely answer the question of whether 
>		  the human mind is completely determined.

I disagree.  I have a Value System, which I consult when making
decisions.  But occasionally I am caught on the razor's edge,
with no clear preference between competing alternatives.  Then,
like Dorothy at the fork in road, I choose at random (rolling the
dice if necessary).

Literature is full of references to arbitrary choices.  The short
story, "The Lady or the Tiger?" and the parable of Buridan's Ass
both speak to the dilemma of choosing between two alternatives
with no clear preference.  Casting lots is a venerable solution
to such undetermined choices.

>	   2) Without this convincing evidence reasonable people can
>		  reasonably disagree about this...

Are you now convinced that at least one living mind is not completely
determined?  (Feel free to be reasonable, if you so choose.)

--Barry Kort