You could have determinism in a non-material universe. But that's not the universe we live in. I'm describing determinism in the universe as we experience it.henry quirk wrote: ↑Fri Sep 08, 2023 2:03 pmIt seems to me what you're sayin' is it's all material (ultimately immaterial "things" like memories, desires, wants and values are some configuration of neurons, chemicals and electricity in the brain).phyllo wrote: ↑Fri Sep 08, 2023 12:01 pmA cause makes something happen.Can you explain how necessitarianism (or, determinism, if you prefer) isn't, or doesn't have to be, rooted in materialism?
And: required or not, aren't most necessitarians materialists?
It can be material or immaterial. It's not restricted by the definition.
Immaterial causes can produce material or immaterial effects. Which then become causes for more effects. Which is the chain of events in determinism.
We live in a physical universe and so ultimately immaterial "things" like memories, desires, wants and values are some configuration of neurons, chemicals and electricity in the brain. If you want to think about it at a low level of abstraction. Usually, talking about desires is more useful than talking about the chemical/electrical state of the brain.
What would be an immaterial cause (A cause makes something happen. It can be material or immaterial.)
A determinist will say that desires, wants and values are immaterial but they "reside" within a physical being and require matter to function.
You and IC appear to be saying that desires, wants and values are immaterial and they are independent of a physical body or brain.
That sounds like you can have computer software running without a physical computer. It doesn't work that way, does it?