Free Will: Does it Exist?

[Michael]

@Frank

Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on with your argument. I thought you were asserting both 1 and 2. Now I have no idea.

If physicalism is true then:

1. The term “my will” refers to physical event B
2. Physical event B is causally responsible for physical event C
3. Physical event B is causally determined by physical event A
4. Therefore, physical event B is causally responsible for physical event C even though it is causally determined by physical event A
5. Therefore, my will is causally responsible for physical event C even though it is causally determined by physical event A
6. “I have free will” means “my will is causally responsible for physical event C”.
7. Therefore, I have free will even though it is causally determined by physical event A

Note that (5) says nothing about free will. It is simply a consequence of (1), (2), and (3). It is true even if (7) is false. But if (5) is true and (7) is false then (6) must be false.