Talk:Free will and determinism

I was unable to add this to your Free will and determinism page. I suspect a total-page-length issue.

Although I like your arguments, and I agree with your conclusion, I submit a couple of observations.

Observation 1

If the universe follows the laws of determinism, it may well be determined that I believe the universe follows the laws of free will.

Observation 2

If the universe follows the laws of free will, it is allowed for me to believe the universe follows the laws of determinism.

Regardless of whether free-will or derterminism is the way the universe works, it is clear that society does hold me accountable for my actions; does dish out praise and blame; does decide whether I am sufficiently sane to be held accountable. Even self-proclaimed determinists will hold me accountable for my decisions and my actions.

It therefore behooves us to behave as if we have free-will, and expect to be held accountable for our decisions and actions. This leads one to socially approved decision making and therefore socially approved behavior regardless of one's free-will choice to believe in determinism. ;-)

Jesse Chisholm