[InJoy]

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

Right. Your argument is that the "human factor" is a magic factor of randomity that foils all the carefully laid plans o' mice and men. In essence, it's now come down to a faith-based argument: the ultimate justification for your position is "because I said so".

Magic never entered my argument. (Nor my mind.) And, in regards to a faith-based argument, is not any argument that cannot be proved faith-based to some degree? If so, just about every discussion any of us have on these boards is faith-based.

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

First off, no, you can't. Just try arguing against that. Or rather, prove that there are an infinite number of ways in which you can change your mind.

Ok, I'll agree that cannot be argued. Infinite anything (outside raw numbers) is difficult if not impossible to prove.

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

Second, no matter how many ways you can change your mind, there are an equal number of ways in which you can't change your mind.

I don't understand this.

Let's say I have a list of ten words.

• apple
• orange
• cat
• dog
• blue
• yellow
• pink
• table
• angry
• smile

You ask me to pick a word. I choose "cat", perhaps because I like them. I can choose to change my mind in at least nine different ways.

How can I not change my mind (decision: cat) nine different ways? If I don't change my mind, isn't my answer always cat?

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

Third, the idea that the human being is so utterly special that, for some subset of his actions, there exists no discernible reason for them, is the grand sum of arrogance.

Having no first-hand experience being a dolphin or a mouse, I cannot speak to the existence or non-existence of free will that they may or may not experience. Heck, for all I know, trees have it too. I only speak from human terms because it is the only thing with which I have experience. I do not, however, dismiss the possibility that free will exists in other things.