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Originally Posted by Interesting Ian  Depends on what is meant by "inevitable". If I went back in time to some famous historical event, and suppose hypothetically that my presence had no effect on the environment whatsoever, then I would know what these historical people would say and behave. And likewise if someone traveled from the future and surreptitiously observed us, she would know how we would behave. Does that make my behaviour inevitable? Surely only in the most shallow insignificant sense. |
Incompatibilists believe the cornerstone I previously posted. If a behaviour is inevitable, then there is nothing we can do to change it. I agree with you that this claim relies on a deviant understanding of inevitability. To say that something is inevitable is to say that it is unavoidable, and whether or not some event is avoidable is alway relative to an
agent (i.e, an intentional system): (un)avoidable by
whom? Nothing is inevitable or unavoidable absolutely.
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Originally Posted by Interesting Ian Yes that what I believe in. But according to how you define determinism this definition of free will is not incompatible with it. |
This means your type of agent causes events independent of that agents desires and beliefs. What explains why you decided to open the fridge, if not your beliefs and desires at the time? It's mysterious!
This view is incompabtible with determinism and everything else science tells us about the world.
A jolly silly mysterians view!
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