(May 16, 2017 at 10:47 am)Alasdair Ham Wrote:(May 16, 2017 at 10:38 am)mh.brewer Wrote: I think all arguments for "no free will" are nonsense.
I think all arguments for "free will" are nonsense.
Quote:Of course there are actions that humans will take based on past experience, even evolution. That does not eliminate independent actions not constrained by the past.
If determinism is true then all actions are determined by prior causes stretching all the way back to the first cause/the big bang/the singularity.
The whole idea of "independent actions" (as in, actions independent from causation) is just hocus pocus.
Quote:The christian definition of omniscient god = only the illusion of free will.
Determinism entails exactly the same thing for exactly the same reasons.
Quote:This is one of the incompatible parts of the fantasy that christians refuse to admit.
And all philosophical libertarians also refuse to admit.
Quote:I expect we will see some tap dancing soon.
I've already seen you tap dancing when you speak of our "independent actions" being independent from causation. We're human, not magic.
Quote: It should take the form of, we get to make our own definitions, rationalizations and inconsistencies, it's our fantasy.
That's exactly what compatabilists do with free will, too. They attempt to avoid the classic problem of free will by redefining the terms rather than addressing the question.
Sam Harris is right: Compatabilism resembles theology.
Isn't this your masturbation time?
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.