# Can libertarian free agency be distinct from deterministic, random, and semi-random causation?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-libertarian-free-agency-be-distinct-from-deterministic-random-and-semi-random-causation/940472>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [April 21, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-libertarian-free-agency-be-distinct-from-deterministic-random-and-semi-random-causation/940472 "2021-04-21T19:07:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 34

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**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-libertarian-free-agency-be-distinct-from-deterministic-random-and-semi-random-causation/940472/34 "2021-04-25T19:22:51Z")

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> [@Mijin](#):
>
> No, you’ve done enough dodging. […] But how then, do you suppose decision-making works? How is a free decision made?

I’m sorry to disappoint, but I don’t think ‘how free agency works’ is knowable. My categorization of it as a separate category of event causation is based on the mechanism or process being unknowable.

> > [@Max\_S](#):
> >
> > And so, finally, could event D be some other category of event causation? I think it could be, if instead of _assuming_ the outcome is bound by deterministic or random processes, I _admit_ that even with perfect knowledge of the physical world, _A1_ is a black box, the actual mental process is unknowable, and the actual probability of each outcome is _undefined_ .

~Max

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