David Lewis' Compatibilism

Compatibilism and Law Breaking

• Lewis' compatibilism responds to Inwagen's claim that free will would require either ability to alter the past or break the laws of nature.
• Lewis alters the argument:

'If you could do anything other than what you're determined to do, the initial conditions would be different, or a law of nature broken'. 

Thus, we have a counterfactual, not a causal accont.

Hand Example

• I just placed my hand on the table.
• This event was pre-determined.
• I was still able to do otherwise.
• But, historical condition H + L determined me to not do otherwise.
• But I was free; I didn't lack the ability not to do it if I'd wished.

Had I raised my hand, the only possibility is that I might have broken the laws of nature.

At this point, the opponent points out that this means compatibilism implies we have some magical ability to break the laws of nature!

Strong thesis: I am able to break a law of nature.

Weak thesis: I am able to do someting such that if I were…