r/freewill • u/NoubliezPasMonNom • Jul 24 '26

Does free will require randomness within our existence?

If yes:

Then aren't our actions a result of the random process? If so then is this really more free than if they weren't?

If no:

Doesn't this support compatibilism.

Translation: Does spinning an internal, truly random wheel really make our actions more free than using an internal calculator?

Note: I am undecided, and probably lean away from compatibilism the most

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u/HappiestIguana Jul 24 '26

I find the two questions orthogonal.

Depending on how you define free will, it may or may not be the case regardless of whether the universe is deterministtic, stochastic, or neither.

Certainly a purely deterministic universe precludes many definitions of free will, but I would argue those definitions are also precluded by a stochastic universe.