[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Originally Posted by Ian

I've never understood what determinism means. What does it mean if it's not defined as being not random??

I do on the other hand understand what random means -- at least I have some sort of vague idea.

Well now, this is interesting. I have rather the opposite reaction.

You are saying that a process is either random or deterministic? If that is the case, since free will is clearly not random (eg my limbs do not flail around in a haphazard manner but appear to be purposeful), then it follows that free will is compatible with determinism, yes?

That depends entirely on your definition of free will. As far as I can tell from every definition of libertarian free will I've seen, it is incompatible with decisions being wholly deterministic and random, and so requires a third mechanism or factor or input or whatever you want to call it.

In other words, let me rewrite your statement:

You are saying that a process is either random or deterministic? If that is the case, since free will is clearly not deterministic (or it would not be free in the sense desired), then it follows that free will is compatible with randomness, yes?

~~ Paul