 Pretend that determinism is true, and that I did not raise my hand (at that department meeting, to vote on that proposal) but had the ability to do so. If I had exercised my ability—if I had raised my hand—then either the remote past or the laws of physics would have been different (would have to have been different). But if that’s so, then I have at least one of two incredible abilities—the ability to change the remote past or the ability to change the laws. But to suppose that I have either of these abilities is absurd. So we must reject the claim that I had the ability to raise my hand.