(June 2, 2016 at 7:50 pm)Shadow_Man Wrote: So -
What is determinism?
Here is a possible definition -
When a set of influences impact upon a sentient entity, that entity must necessarily react in one and only one way. It cannot do otherwise.
I accept your definition of determinism.
Quote:What is indeterminism?
It is "not-determinism,"
Correct.
Quote:When a set of influences impact upon a sentient entity, that entity is free to react in any way it chooses, within its own ability to enact those choices. It can readily do otherwise.
Correct but it's only "free to" in the sense that all those other possible outcomes are available of course. The availability of other possible outcomes is available to a set of dice too. And note that for the choices made to not be random means the sentient entity is determining the outcome, which isn't indeterminism.
If determinism is true a sentient entity cannot determine otherwise because there is no otherwise in determinism.
If indeterminism is true a sentient entity cannot determine otherwise because there is no determining in indeterminism.