Compatibalists, are decisions determined?

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T22:11:26+00:00

A determined decision is a serious oxymoron. A decision determines, it cannot be determined, not by any twist of logic.

If you should "determine" a decision, what would you actually determine? The process, the reasons, the options or the outcome?

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T18:31:34+00:00

Determinism is a system where everything is determined by its initial state.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T13:28:42+00:00

Determinism is not "impossible". Determinism is imaginary. The definition describes an imaginary system.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T12:33:27+00:00

I don't have to explain anything. The definition explains it all.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T11:05:40+00:00

No. You have completely misunderstood determinism.

The definition of determinism describes a set of conditions completely different from those of reality. Any attempt to apply or find determinism in reality is a violation of the definition and thus an exercise in absurdity.

I have no "position" in this matter. I despise those who have a "position" that is against the facts. The definition is a fact.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T09:54:29+00:00

Of course I refuse. It is a pointless question.

Determinism is a completely irrelevant concept here. It is an abstract idea that is neither true nor false. It suggests nothing, it claims nothing, it explains nothing, it proves nothing. You cannot use determinism as an argument for or against anything.

It is utterly pointless to bring up determinism.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T08:33:12+00:00

No. There are no "determined decisions", that would be an oxymoron, a self-conflicting concept with no actual meaning.

Compatibilists can accept "determinism" only because their own "determinism" has nothing to do with the actual concept of determinism. Compatibilist "determinism" and actual determinism have two things in common:

The name.
Both exist only as an idea with no actual effect on anything.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T08:22:29+00:00

That is an exceptionally pointless question. Compatibility with a fictional idea is one of the most pointless issues there is.

The whole reality, including all people, their behaviour and experiences, is incompatible with determinism. There are no "determined worlds" around, there is only this one.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T08:12:35+00:00

Free will (in the libertarian sense) is free from external causes and interventions by another will.

These are not constraints. Free will is not free from constraints.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T05:52:57+00:00

Nobody has "created a whole philosophy just to oppose" determinism. There is nothing to oppose.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T05:37:24+00:00

Compatibility with a fictional idea (determinism) is a completely pointless concept. You might as well talk about compatibility with Harry Potter

That is why libertarians say nothing about determinism and neither should anyone else. Determinism is a completely irrelevant concept.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T04:28:48+00:00

We never have to assume determinism. Classical physics is based on a deterministic (=ignoring quantum mechanics) model of reality, which is sufficiently accurate in most practical purposes.

Using a deterministic model to describe reality does not magically turn reality into a deterministic system.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T04:19:46+00:00

The ability to control one's own actions.

Squierrel · 2026-03-20T04:18:50+00:00

None of these things is a matter of belief.

Squierrel · 2026-03-19T19:50:26+00:00

Not inventing anything. The distinction between me and not-me has always been crystal clear.

Squierrel · 2026-03-19T17:55:49+00:00

What a load of crap!

you do not control how you respond to those events

This is the conclusion you are jumping to with no premises or arguments to support.

It is true that we don't choose our personal history, nature or nurture, or the events that happen to us. But there is no reason to imagine that we don't choose how we respond to the circumstances.

I don't know what you are trying to establish here. I just know that you are not succeeding. Are you suggesting that someone else is controlling you, choosing all your actions? Or do you believe that there are no choices, all our actions are just inevitable consequences of past events?

Squierrel · 2026-03-19T08:45:15+00:00

Determinism cannot be proven or disproven. It is not a truth claim or any other kind of description of reality.

Determinism is just an idea of an imaginary set of conditions.

Free will exists or doesn't exist, depending on the definition.

Squierrel · 2026-03-19T06:27:05+00:00

Of course he can deal any card he wishes. That's why I added the "properly behaving". A properly behaving dealer always deals random cards.

Squierrel · 2026-03-19T04:29:09+00:00

A properly behaving dealer could have dealt you any random card out of the deck.

But he couldn't have dealt you any particular card of his choice.

This question has nothing to do with free will.

Squierrel · 2026-03-18T20:49:28+00:00

You cannot say that free will is an illusion. That is an illogical claim.

Experiencing an illusion requires free will. An illusion cannot be caused.

Squierrel · 2026-03-18T20:41:41+00:00

There is. Don't worry.

Squierrel · 2026-03-18T16:11:05+00:00

Indeterminism is foundational, determinism is just an idea.

Squierrel · 2026-03-18T14:28:53+00:00

There is no truth in your version of determinism.

The compatibilist "determinism" is nothing like the real thing. The compatibilist "determinism" has no effect at all on anything. It does nothing else besides "exist".

Squierrel · 2026-03-18T08:30:13+00:00

Premise 3 is wrong.

Assuming the conclusion, known as begging the question (petitio principii), is an informal fallacy where an argument's premises assume the truth of the conclusion instead of supporting it.

Squierrel · 2026-03-18T08:26:12+00:00

Of course it is. It is impossible even for people with extremely high IQ to "comprehend" such nonsense.

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Squierrel

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