h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

this article misses the point of free will (or the lack of it) entirely. having a certain belief does not mean that we should simply accept that belief as 'meant to be'. if we discover evidence that our belief is wrong, it is likely to change. yes, this too will be (in theory) predictable, but this does still allow for changing beliefs. the mistake in this article is in assuming that right now we are living in some sort of 'end-state' of the universe, meaning that it accepts that our current beliefs are altered by our past experiences but refuses to accept that therefore our future beliefs are just as determined by our present experiences, including our discussions of our present beliefs.

"the mistake in this article is in assuming that right now we are living in some sort of 'end-state' of the universe,..."

That's one of the mistakes in this article. Another is assuming that people who believe in free will will behave differently from those who don't. It's not at all clear what it means to "live assuming free will does not exist" (regions II and IV). Apparently those who believe in determinism have no choice but to slip into a coma.

Someone really ought to rewrite this entry and do the topic justice.

If I had more free *time*, much less free will...