A Cause Cannot Have Multiple Possible Effects
An assessment that ties into the free will debate!
- If X is both the cause of Y and not the cause of Y (e.g. of Z instead), X is self-contradictory.
- Self-contradictions are logically impossible
- X cannot logically be both the cause of Y and not the cause of Y
In other words:
If a cause has the properties that leads to an effect, for it to have the properties to NOT lead to that effect (but to another one instead), the cause’s properties must be different than the cause that leads to the initial effect. X fails the law of identity.
Note: X could be a specific cause, or it could be the entire state of the universe that leads to the next.
So what does this mean for free will?
It means that IF all events are caused (determinism), then our thoughts and decisions are events that are not excluded (they are caused as well). If that’s the case, our thoughts and decisions could not have been otherwise.
But what if some events are uncaused (indeterminism)? If such is possible, any non-caused event can never be up to (caused by) you!
This means the free will definition of importance: the ability to have, of one’s own accord, done otherwise – is logically impossible!
There is much more to it, so if you are interested in the full case destroying free will, please pick up a copy of Breaking the Free Will Illusion for the Betterment of Humankind! Right now it’s having a Kindle Countdown Deal so you can get the Kindle version for very cheap!
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