Deterministic or Probabilistic Causality, other, etc ?

[durangodawood]

I don't see that any room is left for some other process to squeeze in.

This neuron fired because that neuron fired.
This neuron fired because a Carbon-14 atom randomly decayed without a material cause.

I suspect your extreme reductionism is not valid. The mental decision making processes happens at not only the atomic or even neuron level.... I think.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I suspect your extreme reductionism is not valid. The mental decision making processes happens at not only the atomic or even neuron level.... I think.

If the decision making process is a physical process in a physical brain, or a mental process that supervenes on a physical process, then I don't see any room for a free choice, as it is commonly understood, at any level.

If decision making is a non-physical mental process that has physical effects, then one would have to explain how a non-physical thing can wiggle your neurons. Descartes suggested that this happened in the pineal gland, but I don't think anyone has taken that particular idea seriously in a long long time.

 

[Strathos]

I believe it may be a combination of the three things you mentioned. God has set up a system of laws which result in pre-determined events, and may also allow for probabilistic events, but God can also intervene and manipulate when He so chooses.

This is pretty much my view as well.