A Quantum Recipe for Free Will ✎ express

Original: "Agent Choice via Quantum Flux in Living Systems"
· R. E. Kastner
arXiv:2604.06450 · 2026-04-07 · arXiv non-exclusive · independent analysis · 1 min
Physicists have found a way to reconcile free will with quantum mechanics.

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An amoeba turns left. For a long time, this was considered the result of a rigid chain of causes, like dominoes. But at the core of matter, there's a gap for freedom. The 'Agent Choice via Quantum Flux' model shows: each decision corresponds not to one, but to many quantum histories. It's like in a kitchen: dozens of chefs cook the same soup: each moves differently, but the dish turns out the same. Here, a cloud of quantum states merges into one action. This idea was anticipated by Ludwig Boltzmann, showing that the sensation of heat, entropy, arises from the invisible dance of atoms. One perceivable state (warm tea) is made up of a huge number of such invisible motions. The authors extend this logic to choice: the decision 'left' defines not a single point, but a cloud of admissible quantum configurations. Physics merely outlines the boundaries of this cloud. Also, Erwin Schrödinger in his book 'What is Life?' suggested that living systems use quantum effects. And although life is often reduced to carbon and Water, it is the quantum layer that makes room for choice. Thus, quantum fuzziness reconciles free will with the laws of physics. The hypothesis is testable: perhaps amoebas and single-celled organisms demonstrate genuine choice. Moreover, the model hints at quantum computers that could make decisions by intuition, not by a rigid program.

The number of invisible quantum states in a glass of water exceeds the number of atoms in the entire visible universe — which is why a glass of water looks the same every second, even though everything is bubbling inside.

S = k \log W
S is entropy, k is Boltzmann's constant, W is the number of microstates
Scientists
Ludwig BoltzmannRudolf ClausiusJacob BekensteinStephen HawkingJames Clerk MaxwellDavid Deutsch
Concepts
agent axiom of choice quantum switch decision making quantum state state model selection principle of least action energy exchange artificial atom game theory fluid flow open system Water physics initial conditions chemotaxis superposition principle biology flux