So why is that a problem? In an indeterministic universe , you automatically have real counterfactuals, in the sense that a given situation could have turned out differently....its two different ways of looking at the same fundamental fact. In a deterministic universe , you don’t get real counterfactuals, but you still can have logical counterfactuals.
The possibilities given by nondeterminism are not the counterfactuals relevant for decision making, there’s still need for counterfactuals there that are additional constructions (in a counterfactual, the probability of the state transition corresponding to the possible decision being considered is going to be high, unlike “a priori” probability of that transition, but they are the same in the actual world). Any problem with logical counterfactuals is still present in the nondeterministic case, because you can build computers out of nondeterministic components, and there is logical uncertainty about probabilities.
There is no satisfactory account of logical counterfactuals. There are mostly unprincipled constructions that don’t work very well or decision principles that try to do things without counterfactuals (even in semantic accounts), but then it becomes unclear how well they work as decision principles.
In an important sense, the possibilities given by nondeterminism are the only ones important for decision making, because without them, there is just one thing you can will and must do.
in a counterfactual, the probability of the state transition corresponding to the possible decision being considered is going to be high, unlike “a priori” probability of that transition, but they are the same in the actual world
Why? You don’t have omniscient knowledge of the world, and you don’t have perfect insight into yourself either.
Any problem with logical counterfactuals is still present in the nondeterministic case, because you can build computers out of nondeterministic components, and there is logical uncertainty about probabilities.
You need to explain why there is any problem with logical counterfactuals.
There is no satisfactory account of logical counterfactuals.
Sure there is. There isn’t an account of logical counterfactuals given 1) determinism 2) effectively omniscient knowledge of how the world works , and 3) no sandboxing, erasure of knowledge, etc.
But 1 isn’t known to be true, 2) is known to be false, and 3) is always available anyway.
So why is that a problem? In an indeterministic universe , you automatically have real counterfactuals, in the sense that a given situation could have turned out differently....its two different ways of looking at the same fundamental fact. In a deterministic universe , you don’t get real counterfactuals, but you still can have logical counterfactuals.
What’s the actual problem?
The possibilities given by nondeterminism are not the counterfactuals relevant for decision making, there’s still need for counterfactuals there that are additional constructions (in a counterfactual, the probability of the state transition corresponding to the possible decision being considered is going to be high, unlike “a priori” probability of that transition, but they are the same in the actual world). Any problem with logical counterfactuals is still present in the nondeterministic case, because you can build computers out of nondeterministic components, and there is logical uncertainty about probabilities.
There is no satisfactory account of logical counterfactuals. There are mostly unprincipled constructions that don’t work very well or decision principles that try to do things without counterfactuals (even in semantic accounts), but then it becomes unclear how well they work as decision principles.
In an important sense, the possibilities given by nondeterminism are the only ones important for decision making, because without them, there is just one thing you can will and must do.
Why? You don’t have omniscient knowledge of the world, and you don’t have perfect insight into yourself either.
You need to explain why there is any problem with logical counterfactuals.
Sure there is. There isn’t an account of logical counterfactuals given 1) determinism 2) effectively omniscient knowledge of how the world works , and 3) no sandboxing, erasure of knowledge, etc.
But 1 isn’t known to be true, 2) is known to be false, and 3) is always available anyway.