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Free Will and Nonlocality at Detection as Basic Principles of Quantum Physics

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Is Science Compatible with Free Will?

Abstract

Quantum physics highlights the crucial role of free will and nonlocality at detection as basic principles of science. There is interplay of free will and nonlocality: On the one hand, the assumption of free will is necessary to prove nonlocality; on the other, experiments demonstrate that nonlocal effects come from outside space-time, and thereby stress the nonmaterial character of free will. Additionally, recent experiments demonstrate that the basic principles ruling the material world, like the conservation of energy, require nonmaterial coordination. Finally, quantum “indeterminism” does not necessarily mean lack of purpose and control: Randomness is always accompanied by nonmaterial control, even at the level of quantum devices in labs.

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Acknowledgments

I am thankful to Antonio Acín, Gilles Brassard, Nicolas Gisin, Bruno Sanguinetti, Valerio Scarani, Juleon Schins, Stefan Wolf, and Hugo Zbinden for stimulating discussions.

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Correspondence to Antoine Suarez .

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Suarez, A. (2013). Free Will and Nonlocality at Detection as Basic Principles of Quantum Physics. In: Suarez, A., Adams, P. (eds) Is Science Compatible with Free Will?. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5212-6_5

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