Question for free will deniers and sceptics

THE DEFINITION

Free will is the ability to make decisions.

This definition says everything necessary about free will. Redundant additions are discarded.

• "...in the absence of determinism" - Determinism denies this and every other ability. There is no need to mention determinism.
• "...free from prior causes" - Decisions are not physical events. Decisions cannot be "caused".
• "...otherwise in the exact same circumstances" - The circumstances are never the same again. This is a pointless addition.

THE QUESTION

Free will means that we can all choose our actions, decide what we do. If you deny or doubt that we have this ability to determine our actions, then

How do you think our actions are determined instead?

• Are they determined by random occurrences?
  • If you think that our actions are random, then how do you explain the fact that our actions all seem to serve a purpose? That would be in conflict with this assumed randomness.
• Are they decided by someone else?

If you say that they are just causal reactions to prior events, you are not answering the question, only dodging it. You have to say how were the prior events and ultimately the first event determined. Otherwise you have no reason to doubt or deny free will.