Innate behavior, also known as instinctive behavior or animal instinct, refers to the natural behavior present in all species members. A specific stimulus triggers it and does not require any learning or practice. When exposed to the stimulus, an animal can perform the behavior for the first time without prior experience. In other words, instinctive behavior does not have to be learned or practiced. For example, a newborn horse can walk on its four feet minutes after birth, while it takes a human baby about a year to learn how to walk.
In the context of AI, innate behavior (or animal instinct) can be considered a pre-built data model, while learned behavior is acquired through trial and error and observation. Innate behavior is inflexible and challenging to modify, whereas learned behavior is highly adaptable. Primitive animals mainly rely on innate behavior, while intelligent animals can use learned behavior. Learned behavior is what ultimately leads to free will. In human development, we receive supervised learning from our parents, who teach us right from wrong. As we age, we use unsupervised learning to understand how the world works and establish our rules. Free will is not arbitrary decision-making or a strict set of rules. Instead, our decisions are based on the data model we develop throughout our lives, which we refer to as our worldview or character. Our character is something we cultivate, and it cannot be downloaded.
Free will and predestination can be viewed as two sides of the same coin. While free will allows individuals to make their own decisions, God, as the ultimate predictor, can anticipate their responses based on past behavior. It is important to note that the Christian God is not a passive observer but an active participant in his creation. He may communicate directly through the Holy Spirit or use other people or events to influence an individual’s decision-making process. In the upcoming posts, I will delve deeper into free will and explore how God interacts with the physical world, using evolutionary processes to create this capacity for choice.