Real Choice Requires Determinism

I suppose I make the case for requisitism in the context of free will; a step further then the case for compatibilism. That is, I see determinism as not only compatible with the notion of free will, but as a requirement. Real choice does not make sense without it. Non-determinism undermines the notion of identity, the ability to make choice, and the purpose of choice making. Indeterminacy is not the "savior" of free will, but something to be avoided.

Perhaps, as Daniel Dennet argues, our brains evolved to be resilient against the effects of non-deterministic events precisely so we could comprehend the world and become better "avoiders", just as we have designed computers. I think we should embrace new understandings of choice making so that we can then make better choices.

Daniel Dennett's lecture on free will: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKLAbWFCh1E

Category:

Education

Tags:

• free
• will
• choice
• determinism

[shlockofgod]

If under determinism there is only one possible outcome then no choice is possible because choice requires more than one possible outcome. We can call that choice if we want but we'd no more be choosing than a ball chooses to roll down a hill or a dry piece of wood chooses to be very combustible.

[j0lin101]

@shlockofgod If there is physically more then one possible outcome, then what would choice even mean. If I make a choice then so what if the outcome is going to be something else anyway.

[alokin49]

bro you should be a famous philosopher i cant believe you dont have more views. Ive been trying to understand this stuff for a week now and you finally made it make sense. THis will help me write my essay thank you.

[j0lin101]

@alokin49 you made my day. :)

[JesseDoesMagicDotCom]

That was an amazing explanation. I have tried to say that (assuming determinism is true) "free will" was a phrase coined to describe observations and experiences in a deterministic world, and therefore conceptualizing it as something else does not make sense. But your explanation does a much better job than that.

[Lekeksi]

You explained perfectly what has been in my mind as a jumbled mess for some time now. Thank you.