Does Quantum Mechanics Rule Out Free Will?

Introduction

• Author: John Horgan
• Publication: Scientific American
• Date: March 10, 2022
• Main Question: Does quantum mechanics rule out free will?
• Focus: Examination of superdeterminism and its implications for free will.

Superdeterminism

• Definition: A radical hypothesis proposing that all events are predetermined, including human choices.
• Origin: Developed in response to peculiarities in quantum mechanics:
  • Apparent randomness of quantum events
  • Dependence on human observation
  • Nonlocality (spooky action at a distance)
• Proposed by: John Bell, known for his 1964 theorem on quantum nonlocality.

Key Concepts Explained

• Nonlocality: The phenomenon where a measurement in one place can instantaneously affect another, distant measurement.
• Hidden Variables: Theoretical constructs that may determine outcomes that appear random.
• Indeterminism vs. Determinism: Quantum mechanics is traditionally indeterministic, predicting probabilities rather than specific outcomes.

Arguments and Perspectives

Sabine Hossenfelder's View

• Position: Supports superdeterminism, argues against the randomness of quantum mechanics.
• Claims:
  • Superdeterminism could be confirmed experimentally.
  • Predicts measurement outcomes might become more predictable.
  • Criticizes the concept of free will as incoherent.

Critique and Debate

• Author's Concerns:
  • Feels arguments for superdeterminism are circular and lack detailed explanation of hidden variables.
  • Believes psychological factors influence choices, not reducible to physics.
• Einstein's View: Also a determinist, skeptical of free will, likens it to the moon believing it moves freely.

Counterarguments

• George Ellis: Advocates for downward causation, where emergent phenomena can influence physical processes.
• John Conway and Simon Kochen: Proposed the "Strong Free Will Theorem," suggesting particles have a form of free will.

Philosophical Implications

• Explanatory Gap: Between physical theories and human consciousness and actions.
• Incompleteness of Physics: Physics doesn’t fully account for human experiences such as love, morality, and choice.

Conclusion

• Debate Significance: Beyond academic interest, as philosophical beliefs can affect human perspectives on agency and control.
• Author's Take: Argues that physics might not fully explain free will and acknowledges the limits of reductionist approaches.
• Bell's View on Superdeterminism: Used as a critique of quantum mechanics' strangeness, not a firm belief in its correctness.

Importance of Ideas

• The discussion reflects broader concerns about human agency and the feeling of helplessness in a deterministic universe.
• Theoretical debates in quantum mechanics matter in shaping philosophical and existential perspectives.