ZEN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF QUANTUM MECHANICS - 5

Free Will - 2

So, I see free will as the ability to make choices that aren't determined by past events. I reckon it's real, and I explained how it works in my previous post. However, there's no way for me to prove that I'm right. The reason I can't prove it is that being in this state of mind -- where time flows from the future to the past, i.e., seeing the world from the perspective of the centre of the Universe* -- is inherently a subjective experience since you're on your own in this state.

Now, recall Waugh's model:** there are two distinct frames of reference/viewpoints: the centre of the Universe viewpoint and the viewpoint of humans from an awkward position in the Universe. Relativity reflects our viewpoint, while quantum mechanics reflects Nature's viewpoint from the centre of the Universe. The Universe, and time in particular, is perceived differently from each viewpoint, and it's precisely this difference that allows the reconciliation between general relativity and quantum mechanics.

I'm not sure if his model is correct, but I do agree that there are two perspectives: from one, time flows from the past to the future; from the other, when you're the centre of the Universe, it flows from the future to the past, and it's precisely this duality which makes free will possible.

So, I can also add, the reason I can't prove that it's sometimes possible to make decisions undetermined by the past -- actually, it's an even more general problem, for example, many feel that Determinism is wrong, but they just can't prove it -- is because general relativity doesn't emerge from quantum mechanics. Instead, they both emerge from something more fundamental (it sounds strange that we're considering the emergence of Possibilities, which, by definition, exist in the future). The Crystallizing Block Universe theory*** makes this clearer: there are two realms that overlap in the present.

In other words, there are things in the Universe which, by definition, cannot be proven empirically and will always remain part of our individual subjective experiences and, as a result, beliefs. I think it's no coincidence that many physicists today are interested in Buddhism and Zen in particular.

To be continued.

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*The Walking Zen - Zen without a Teacher: ZEN FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF QUANTUM MECHANICS - 1
https://0zen1.blogspot.com/2024/06/zen-from-perspective-of-quantum.html

**RRCAT Physicist claims that physics and cosmology are both in crisis because of writing model of universe
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rrcat-physicist-claims-physics-cosmology-033021388.html

***What is time? An astronomer explains the search to find its origin
https://www.astronomy.com/science/what-is-time-an-astronomer-explains-the-search-to-find-its-origins/

***The Crystallising Universe
https://plus.maths.org/content/crystallising-universe