@prothero,
prothero;157744 wrote:Recused from those who think that the future is fixed and that there is only one possible outcome for any given set of circumstances including human behaviors.
That there is and has only ever been one possible evolution of the world, is the basic and essential claim of determinism. Kennethamy is
not a determinist, why he wants to claim to be a member of a group of people with whom he disagrees, is unfathomable, for me. The compatibilist position isn't Kennethamy's, it's like this:
Pyrrho;157522 wrote:Suppose the future is "fixed". That would not entail that one does not do what one wants, as what one wants may be part of what it is that brings about the future states that are fixed. So we then may ask, what, precisely, is "free will"? If it is simply doing as one wishes, then there is no incompatibility with that and a "fixed" future.
And it's easy to see that it's daft. As what one wants and what one does, in a determined world, are details of a global description, the coincidence of wanting what happens is of no more significance than the colour of clothing worn when whatever happens, happens. There is neither freedom nor will, in compatibilism.