The Freedom of the Will

The Definition of Determinism

Determinism holds that our actions are determined by external causes. In other words, our actions are not determined by ourselves.

The Definition of Libertarianism

Libertarianism holds that our actions are not determined by external causes. In other words, our actions are determined by ourselves.

The Definition of Compatibilism

Compatibilism holds that both determinism and libertarianism are true.

[Compatibilism does not hold that libertarianism is false. Indeed, compatibilism is called compatibilism precisely because it holds that determinism and libertarianism are compatible with each other.

To say that someone is compatibilistically free is not to deny that he or she is libertarianly free. It is precisely to affirm that he or she is libertarianly free.

The difference between libertarianism and compatibilism is not that libertarianism affirms libertarian freedom and compatibilism denies libertarian freedom. It is that libertarianism affirms libertarian freedom and denies determinism, while compatibilism affirms both libertarian freedom and determinism.]

Of course, determinism and libertarianism cannot both be true in the same sense. Otherwise, our actions would be both determined and not determined by external causes at the same time. Rather, determinism is true in one sense and libertarianism is true in another sense.

The Truth of Determinism

Determinism is true in the sense that in this particular world (ie. the world we live in), God sovereignly decrees/destines/determines everything which will come to pass. There is nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing which God has not sovereignly decreed/destined/determined beforehand.

The Truth of Libertarianism

Libertarianism is true in the sense that in every possible world, we would freely do what we want to do. We are responsible for what we would freely do in every possible situation in every possible world.

The Truth of Compatibilism

Determinism and libertarianism are compatible with each other in the sense that

we determine what would happen in every possible world (by being responsible for what we would freely do in every possible situation in every possible world)

and

God determines what will happen in this particular world (by taking into account what we would freely do in every possible situation in every possible world and creating the best possible world out of all possible worlds).

Therefore, we are responsible for what we would freely do in every possible situation in every possible world, and God is responsible for working all things (ie. what we would freely do in every possible situation in every possible world) 'for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV) in this particular world - the best possible world out of all possible worlds.

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The way I see it, determinism without libertarianism leads to hyper-Calvinism, libertarianism without determinism leads to open theism, and compatibilism leads to moderate "middle knowledge" Calvinism.

Links: The Freedom of the Will (Revised) (21 Dec 09), First and Second Causes (10 Jan 10), The Sufficiency of Christ (12 Feb 10)