>>11070964Then let's look at your preferences, thoughts and desires.
Again, we can ask if they are functions of environment and genetic make-up, and if they all are, then since they are what determines one's action, their action is a function of environment and genetic make-up. Under my above definition, this means no free will, since it means every decision is based purely on factors from the environment and your genetics.
But if your preferences, thoughts, desires, etc. are not functions of environment and genetic make-up, then we must ask, what other factors influence them? If it is random (as you seem to be describing randomness), then your choices are based on randomness, and we have the same dilemma.
So only if one's thoughts, preferences, desires, etc. are based on something more than just genetics and environment, and there is no randomness, can we say that there is free will.
But how can we ever say that this something else is not just randomness? It again leads us back to randomness and this free will factor being indistinguishable, and so you can either say that either way you have free will, or the question is unanswerable.
