CS writes:
An omnipotent god could create a universe in which determinism and free will coexist.
Sure. In the same manner in which God can create a rock bigger than he can lift.
Are not true or pure determinism and free will mutually exclusive concepts.
Determinism is "a theory or doctrine that acts of the will, occurrences in nature, or social or psychological phenomena are causally determined by preceding events or natural laws".
If this is true then where does free will fit in if every choice we have is dependent on past events. Let me illustrate if determinism is true than we are really not making a free choice because our choices are hard wired into our physical and psychological makeup. In other words we should be able to predict the choices all of us make based on our genetic makeup and our background. Thus free choice is really an illusion.
I am not saying I agree with this philosophy, I am just saying that according to their definitions free will and determinism can not coexist.
Just my thoughts.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.Dr. Carl Sagan
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