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Originally Posted by Open Mind Well I got the impression that you were opting for compatibilist 'free will'? (because you only seem to attack Libertarian freewill). |
We could probably devise some coherent definition of a compatibilist form of free will, although it's pretty damn difficult. I don't need to subscribe to such a definition, however, because I really don't care. The concept of free will is just not that useful.
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1. Compatibilism (soft determinism) - i.e. free will and determinism are compatible with each other
Or
2. Hard Determinism (Incompatiblism) - Determinism is true, freewill is an illusion
Choose one , so you can't move the goalposts from one to the other (Blackmore seems 2, at least in the above quote)
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I can't choose between those two without knowing more. What sort of free will is meant in item (1)? A specific sort, or any old thing we care to define depending on the context? For example, a definition of free will in psychology would be different from one in the law.
Item (2) is really strange. What sort of free will is an illusion? Certainly not an informal one such as that required by the law. Or does it refer to some kind of specific, self-sustaining free will?
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What did you propose? The following?
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Originally Posted by me ....I think there is an evolutionary advantage to having a feeling of will about performing actions, because then the results of the actions are "owned" by the individual and the individual will plan to improve future actions. I do not think this feeling of will has anything to do with libertarian free will. ... | |
Yes.
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Paul, it doesn't work IMHO...first you say 'feeling of will' (Hard Incompatibilism?) then you say 'will plan to improve future actions (Compatibilism?) .... it seems to me you are switching position as you please. I need to know which you believe.
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I'm distinguishing between a feeling of will and free will. And you know why: Because I don't know what the definition of free will is. So reread my statement without tainting it with metaphysical baggage.
~~ Paul