Stefan Weckbach,
Thank you for conveying your opinion regarding my essay.
With the given properties of the bodies, mathematical laws allow only a 'set of actions'. Each action in the set is deterministic. Number of actions possible depends on the number of bodies (each having different properties). Even if all possible actions happen, the end result will not be that much varied, because the deterministic nature allows only certain end results (It is like many paths leading to the same destination). That is, the system is overall deterministic.
For example, from fundamental particles, a very large number of composite particles can be formed, but the end result is electron, proton and neutron. This I think is due to the deterministic nature of mathematical laws, which govern the formation of composite particles.
What mathematics allows and forbids us can be easily explained. If you have to reach a destination hundred kilometers away and you have just one hour, then mathematical laws says that you have to travel faster than 100 km/hr. So mathematics simply deny you all modes of transport slower than that, but allows you to select from the modes of transport faster than that. At the same time mathematics does not say which modes are available.
Mathematics does not decide the fundamental properties of matter. Mass, volume, motion (energy) and force are the basic properties that matter have. All emergent properties arise from these. If matter had a different set of properties, then even with mathematical laws and the set of allowed actions, freewill and intelligence will not emerge. So it would be logical to assume that freewill and intelligence remain embedded in matter.
What is consciousness? It is just a physical property attained by a structure formed by atoms. My argument is that if we create a complex sructure like our brain and keep it functioning, it will surely have consciousness; no special effort is required. Why should such structures emerge? It is again the deterministic laws of mathematics. Like electron, proton and neutron at the particle level, these structures are the end products that can be naturally formed from 'a set of atoms', and the structure can be arrived at through a large number of paths. The required environment itself is a deterministic end result at a given period of the expanding phase.
A pulsating universe has no initial state. It is an infinite loop to the past and to the future.The initial state of expansion follows from the previous contraction. The expansion follows the same path each time. At a certain portion of the path, the condition inside the universe is suitable for life. Life emerges and it has freewill. But even with that why should it have a goal? Deciding a goal is not part of physics; we have to resort to metaphysics. Once a goal is identified, the rest of the explanation is physics. In the case of Cosmos, there is an identifiable goal is something very surprising.
Jose P Koshy