What is the nature of choice?

Question

How can choice exist? Every action leads to a consequence, according to the laws of nature, the laws of science. Given that our brain is nothing more than a biological machine, processing information how it is programmed to do by nature and nurture, where does choice fit in?

Think about it, our nuture is based on our parents nurture. If you go back enough generations, the nurture would be purely based on nature (consider algae). So, every choice we think we make is just the result of our programming, based on the hardwiring of our brain? If there is no choice, there is no guilt, blame or consequence!

On the other hand, if you believe in choice you cannot believe the normal laws of science describe every aspect of the universe. Mind you, choice is an illusion and you may believe it because you are programmed to 'chose' to believe it.

I see no way an Atheist can believe in choice. Can anyone elaborate on this for me?

So if I was asked 'pick a number between one and ten', what influences my choice? Do I actually get to make that decision? Is that decision not already made in my brain? The real question here is, what is the nature of consciousness?

Holden: But you say 'our judgement'... what exactly is that if it isn't based on the hard-wiring of our brains and our conditioning! Do we posess any judgement other than that which we have obtained through nature? If so, what is choice? Why do you 'feel' that you have made a choice? Isn't choice an illusion?

Answer 1

"You can will what you do, but you can't will what you will."

This is just a variation on the arguments on predestination from the time of the Reformation, except instead of God determining your actions, random quantum effects do. There is no answer, and in living your life if doesn't matter, because you have no choice.

Answer 2

If you 'choose' to believe that the human brain is merely a 'biological machine' then follow that trail to a logical conclusion. The human brain is a highly powerful (gifted?) 'machine' that senses and responds to stimuli and remembers both the details and generalized notions. One of the brain's capabilities is to create a repertoire of activities such as learning to tie shoes or fold blankets or play the piano. It follows that one of the learned repertoires is to make choices. There are many learned ways such as flipping a coin or 'considering' all the facts (that must come to mind) and 'make a deliberate choice.' Man made machines could do that but likely no such machine would also be 'self aware' which is a feature we share with only a limited few other creatures that have evolved past instinctive reactions. We are self observers who can learn much about our 'machine.'

Answer 3

"Given that our brain is nothing more than a biological machine, processing information how it is programmed to do by nature and nurture"

Who 'gave' you that?

The answer to your question is that your fundamental premise is mistaken. It assumes an automatic consciousness. But humans are beings of volitional consciousness. We have a choice whether to be conscious or not, whether to think or not, whether to learn or not.

The very act of thinking presupposes that the choice has been made to think.

And our capacity to learn is fallible. It is possible for us to presume, for instance, that the laws of science don't allow for randomness or probabilities.

--John--

Answer 4

Choice is an outcome of relative judgement. To make choice there is intellect, how it does is based on its requirements, again requirements are also based on choice. Its your desire thats defines the choice and makes the choice. Nature of choice is your desire and action towards that desire.

Answer 5

Quantum uncertainty will cause the consequence of action to be uncertain.

This uncertainty that we live with causes us to require our judgement to make choice.