Jack Luo — 4 minute read

Introduction

Philosophers have wrestled with free will and predeterminism for centuries. On one side is the idea that every event, from galaxies spinning to neurons firing, follows inviolable laws; on the other is the sense that we shape our own destinies. This essay is not a final answer but an attempt to reconcile the two views in a way that is useful for daily life.

Laplace’s demon and its limits

Laplace imagined a super‑intelligence that, knowing the exact state of every particle, could compute the entire future. Even if such a demon existed, it would be useless to us: the computational effort needed to track every quantum fluctuation would be so immense as to be effectively impossible. The fact that we cannot use the demon to predict our own actions does not mean the universe stops being lawful; it simply shows that we operate under an epistemic barrier.

Uncertainty, luck and subenvironments

Our lives are shaped by luck — genetics, upbringing, random encounters and quantum events. We inhabit a “subenvironment,” a filtered slice of reality in which we perceive signals, react and send feedback back to the master layer. That dance feels like freedom, but it remains embedded in the same causal tapestry. Unpredictability comes not from a metaphysical gap in the laws of physics but from our ignorance and limited compute.

Meaningful choice as framing and endorsement

Given that we operate under partial observability, what does it mean to choose? I define meaningful choice as the process of framing alternatives, weighing them against our goals and endorsing the reasons behind our decisions. We may not know our ultimate purpose, but within our local environment we pick what we believe is optimal. That process—reflecting on options and affirming our reasons—makes a choice meaningful even if the universe is fully deterministic.

Conclusion

Humans are complex versions of single cells moving toward nutrients: we did not invent our cravings, yet we still pursue them. We are puppets of circumstance, but we can examine the strings, question our motives and reprogram our subroutines. Believing in free will inspires us to learn and grow even if the deepest layer of reality is determined. That paradox—being determined and determined to transcend determination—is the puzzle that keeps life interesting.