<討議 (二) > (A) 品川嘉也氏の最近論文『力学における決定論と意識の自由について』を読んで

Abstract

Shinagawa has pointed out that his non-linear differentlal equation (2) has an infinite number of solutions for a given initial condition. On this basis he has argued that Newton’s equation of motion (1) has no definite solution for general non-linear force and suggested that this supports his theory of consciousness. My criticism is based on the fact that an arbitrary differential equation of the type md2x/dt2＝f is not a Newtonian equation of motion. lt is necessary that f satisfy some restriction required by physics, and within this restricted class Newton’s equation of motion has yields definite causal solutions in the case of non-linear forces as well. The origins of indeterminism should be considered in relation to quantum mechanics and to the question of entropy or the available amount of information, as Shinagawa has argued, but they have nothing to do with Newtonian mechanics.