Comment by user36

9 hours ago

If you believe that every effect has a cause, then you might question the notion of “free will” that most people believe in. This means that regardless if it’s “simulation” or not, we can’t “change” anything.

3 comments

user36

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mnicky  7 hours ago

Hmm, but isn't a statement that _every_ effect has a cause self-refuting?

  • user36  6 hours ago

    I’m not that well versed in philosophy to dive deeply into theory, but I don’t see a self-refutation. There is obviously a problem of first cause, but I don’t think it refutes my argument about free will. Also, I think Universal Causation is mostly non-controversial and most people agree on it and operate accordingly.

    • mnicky  6 hours ago

      Sorry, this wasn't a reply to the free will part.

      And yes, I meant the problem of the first cause, but it probably isn't a strict refutation...

      And also, when it's stated as "every effect has a cause" (not "everything," as I first understood it), then it's probably even a tautology :)

      To the free will part itself - I can say that I decided to do B because of a reason A (so the effect B was caused directly by my decision and indirectly by A) and I still have a free will?