Free Quote by William A. Dembski
““The power to veto or negate is the power of free will. Free will is “free won’t.”9 This connects neatly with information theory, which, as we will see, characterizes information as a reduction or ruling out of possibilities. To be informed that something is the case is to be informed that other things are not the case. Information says yes to some things by saying no to others. Free will is the power of no.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Design Inference”, 1998
Free will is the ability to reject possibilities, aligning with information theory’s concept of reducing uncertainty.
In simple terms: Will is saying no to options.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the power of choice.
Themes
philosophy
information theory
free will
decision making
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- ethical decision making
- creative problem solving
- personal responsibility
Key Concepts
entropy
possibility space
choice architecture
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which options to reject?
- What role does uncertainty play in your choices?
A Different Perspective
Complexity of predicting outcomes can limit perceived freedom.
