The concept of free will as an infinite metatheoretic recursion

It is argued that the concept of free will, like the concept of truth in formal languages, requires a separation between an object level and a meta-level for being consistently defined. The Jamesian two-stage model, which deconstructs free will into the causally open "free" stage with its closure in the "will" stage, is implicitly a move in this direction. However, to avoid the dilemma of determinism, free will additionally requires an infinite regress of causal meta-stages, making free choice a hypertask. We use this model to define free will of the rationalist-compatibilist type. This is shown to provide a natural three-way distinction between quantum indeterminism, freedom and free will, applicable respectively to artificial intelligence (AI), animal agents and human agents. We propose that the causal hierarchy in our model corresponds to a hierarchy of Turing uncomputability. Possible neurobiological and behavioral tests to demonstrate free will experimentally are suggested. Ramifications of the model for physics, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, neuropathological medicine and moral philosophy are briefly outlined.Comment: Accepted in INDECS (close to the accepted version

Greek and Latin in medical terminology

This paper offers an overview of the status quo of medical terminology. Most terms used in biology and medicine are derived from classical languages, i.e. Latin and Greek. In previous years, Latin was listed as a subject offered in the syllabus of medical studies. Now, things have altered. It is obvious however, that a basic understanding of Latin and Greek etymology increases the productivity of learning and comfort while using medical terminology. A knowledge of the meaning of the roots, prefixes, and suffixes enables the student to thoroughly analyse a given medical term in terms of its component parts. This is probabl ythe greatest aid in learning to understand the vocabulary of medicine. The main part of this study consists of tables containing the most common morphemes together with numerous examples

STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Science is on our minds at Linfield. Students and faculty spent the summer collaborating on research in the sciences, mathematics and technology, both here and abroad