I think one of the main problems with Free Will stems from our ability to revise our actions after we've done them.
Self-causation is internally contradictory, as pointed out in OP, but I'm not so sure this alone invalidates a tradional view of Free Will.
We certainly have volition, since we're able to make decisions. But because we don't see the inner workings and the underlying causations of our thinking and therefore actions means we also have a feeling of being in control of our volition and resulting decisions. This leaves us with the illusion of Free Will, if one agrees with the above.
I don't think anyone has Free Will, I think "Free Will" is one of those sounds-like-meaningful short phrases but is entirely inconsistent/contradictory, like asking what the meaning of life is. Just shows how powerful language is; the ability to construct sentences that make no sense.
Self-causation is internally contradictory, as pointed out in OP, but I'm not so sure this alone invalidates a tradional view of Free Will.
We certainly have volition, since we're able to make decisions. But because we don't see the inner workings and the underlying causations of our thinking and therefore actions means we also have a feeling of being in control of our volition and resulting decisions. This leaves us with the illusion of Free Will, if one agrees with the above.
I don't think anyone has Free Will, I think "Free Will" is one of those sounds-like-meaningful short phrases but is entirely inconsistent/contradictory, like asking what the meaning of life is. Just shows how powerful language is; the ability to construct sentences that make no sense.
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the easiest person to fool." - Richard P. Feynman
