Prophesy/Free Will

[Zkribbler]

Today's 'Poly philosophical paradox:

For there to be prophesy, the future must be fixed.

For there to be free will, the future must be malluable.

Can prophesy and free will both exist? If so, what is the nature of the future?

[Ming]

I predict that I will have to ban somebody in the future...
And that person will be exercising their Free Will

[Kidlicious]

Ignoring the fact that I don't think that's a paradox, I think the future is pretty much fixed.

[Kidlicious]

I think Ming has the free will not to ban people but it is inevitable that he will.

[Lancer]

A person that lived a hundred years ago had free will, but his past is known because his life has been lived. If you view things without the constraints of time then even those still alive, exercising free will, their future is also known in just the same way.

[Kidlicious]

I think I need some LSD.

[Lancer]

You will not take it because you never did.

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Lancer
You will not take it because you never did.

Yes I did.

[Lancer]

No you won't

[Kidlicious]

Woooooh Dude! Trip Out!

[Agathon]

I'm not doing this one again. It annoys the religious people and atheists in equal measure.

[Whoha]

Re: Prophesy/Free Will

Originally posted by Zkribbler
Today's 'Poly philosophical paradox:

For there to be prophesy, the future must be fixed.

For there to be free will, the future must be malluable.

Can prophesy and free will both exist? If so, what is the nature of the future?

If the universe is deterministic then there is a fixed future, but to know that future is to be able to change it. so neither and both

[Theben]

It's not a paradox, since there is no law stating both prophesy AND free will exist.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Theben
It's not a paradox, since there is no law stating both prophesy AND free will exist.

D'oh, of course not, since they are mutually exclusive.

[BeBMan]

Hm, couldn't someone predict those things people do according to their free will?