The Free Will Theorem - John Conway, 4:00pm, Thu 27 Jan 2005, Auckland Uni

**jrandom** · 26th January 2005, 14:05

I'm not posting this in the Meetings and Events forum because it has nothing to do with motorcycles.

You might have noticed the article about this lecture in the Herald today:

http://www.math.auckland.ac.nz/Seminars/view.php?id=913

I shouldn't need to pimp it here beyond what's on that link, so I won't.

I and a few colleagues will be skiving off early from work and attending. If any like-minded KBers feel like coming, meet me at the bike park opposite the engineering building at 3:50pm.

**vifferman** · 26th January 2005, 14:08

Originally Posted by jrandom

You might have noticed the article about this lecture in the Herald today...

Yeah, I did, and read it (amazing, eh?) At first, I thought it looked promising, but then I thought, "This is bollix!" and

and

**Motu** · 26th January 2005, 14:13

I hope he's not going to debunk the Kaos theory....I've based my life around it.

**jrandom** · 26th January 2005, 14:14

Originally Posted by vifferman

At first, I thought it looked promising, but then I thought, "This is bollix!" and

and

You apathetic old bugger!

The guy *is* a pretty well respected mathematician, you know. I'd go to his lecture regardless of what topic he chose.

And he's not claiming any proof of free will, or anything. It's about the implications thereof.

Hell, it beats working, dunnit?

**vifferman** · 26th January 2005, 14:16

Here's the kicker: his picture reminded me of WINJA's avatar.

Don't think it was WINJA though; his quotes weren't in UPPERCASE.

**Yokai** · 26th January 2005, 14:31

Man - I'd like to go to that.... Shucks. Weird thing for me was that I read it as a theorem about freeing some guy called Will .... *DOH!*

Reminds me of the time that my Dad was run over by Professor Hawking in a Cambridge pub! - The nurse with him said "Sorry about that - he gets a little wobbly when he's had a drink!"

**Motu** · 26th January 2005, 14:56

[QUOTE=Yokai]Man - I'd like to go to that.... Shucks. Weird thing for me was that I read it as a theorem about freeing some guy called Will .... *DOH!*
QUOTE]

so shall we all go along and show John our Free Willies?

**MikeL** · 26th January 2005, 15:37

An interesting thought. As I understand it he starts with the assumption that he has free will ("I can decide to drop this pen on the table, or not") and from that goes on to conclude that every sub-atomic particle in the universe has the same freedom. No doubt his mathematics and physics are impeccable. It's proving the initial assumption that I'd be concerned about.
As for the rest, if I didn't have a brain that gets confused by any mathematics more advanced than long division, I would be tempted to go along and listen...

**vifferman** · 26th January 2005, 15:42

Originally Posted by MikeL

An interesting thought. As I understand it he starts with the assumption that he has free will ("I can decide to drop this pen on the table, or not") and from that goes on to conclude that every sub-atomic particle in the universe has the same freedom. No doubt his mathematics and physics are impeccable. It's proving the initial assumption that I'd be concerned about.

That's sort of what I thought too, when reading the article.
Can we ever be entirely sure that any action we take / decision we make is entirely of our own free will? (Not a problem in my case, as I am almost incapable of making decisions...

)

I still say it's all bollix....

**duckman** · 26th January 2005, 15:53

I was thinking about going and then thought ... "is this my decision or am I destined to go" ?? ... Then I decided F*ckem, I wont go and that'll prove it one way or another ... eh!!

**jrandom** · 26th January 2005, 16:05

He's a mathematician, not a philosopher. He doesn't care whether or not you have free will.

He just happens to have noticed an interesting implication if you *do* happen to have it.

Mike, you should come. If you can drag yourself away from the teenage girls for long enough, of course.

**Hitcher** · 26th January 2005, 16:18

Is this lecture sponsored by The Public Trust?

**Blakamin** · 26th January 2005, 16:19

does anyone know what happened to KB????? i seem to have moved to a parallel universe where everone is talking weird shit.... if I am in that universe, can someone kill me ASAP.... please

ps I ride a motersickle

**jrandom** · 26th January 2005, 16:21

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Is this lecture sponsored by The Public Trust?

I'm afraid that the specific fusion of faux-academic government department in-jokes, not-for-profit bodies corporate and pop culture that undoubtedly underlies the subtle humour in your post has passed me by.

**Blakamin** · 26th January 2005, 16:29

Originally Posted by jrandom

I'm afraid that the specific fusion of faux-academic government department in-jokes, not-for-profit bodies corporate and pop culture that undoubtedly underlies the subtle humour in your post has passed me by.

definately in the wrong universe.....