Many philosophers have attempted to solve the "Mystery of Free Will" by using another mystery. Others have found possible answers in
mathematical and physical infinities.
The most popular mysteries are the many
quantum mysteries, now that most philosophers admit the possibility that quantum mechanics introduces some real randomness and absolute chance into the universe.
Until recently, no thinker has succeeded in getting past the
standard argument that
indeterminacy may render our decisions random and thus deny us moral
responsibility.
Popular quantum mysteries recruited by philosophers include
- the uncertainty principle,
- wave-particle duality,
- the two-slit experiment,
- non-locality or entanglement, cf. EPR paradox,
- hidden variables,
- superposition of states, cf. Schrodinger's Cat,
- the collapse of the wave function,
- the need for conscious observers,
- complementarity in the Copenhagen interpretation,
- the many-worlds interpretation,
- quantum chaos,
- and quantum gravity.
Peter van Inwagen says that "Free Will Remains a Mystery."
Colin McGinn calls himself a "New Mysterian."
Michael Lockwood says
This is a fairly old idea (with little, formerly, to back it up beyond some half-formulated notion that since quantum mechanics is mysterious and so is consciousness, these two mysteries may perhaps be related).
(Mind, Brain, and Quantum Mechanics, p.36)
John Searle says consciousness is a mystery, free will is a mystery, and quantum mechanics is a mystery. These mysteries may be related.
In a breakthrough of sorts, Searle admits that he could never see, until recently, the point of introducing quantum mechanics into discussions of consciousness and free will. Now he says we know two things:
First we know that our experiences of free action contain both indeterminism and rationality...Second we know that quantum indeterminacy is the only form of indeterminism that is indisputably established as a fact of nature...it follows that quantum mechanics must enter into the explanation of consciousness." (Freedom and Neurobiology, (Columbia U. Press, 2007) p.74-75)
