2006-12-23 19:02:20 · 22 answers · asked by pax veritas 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Asker’s Category of Preference (not disclosed):
- Ishfaq A, usarmorsoldier’s, Jack, Whistle Britches, Oopaack
- Lady Wildwood, Conway, banana, Bubbles, rjmoon2004, magime, alielyassi
- Brian D, suzie1968uk, sapphire_17_2001, fatp3ngu1n, wolfmantex
2006-12-26 04:33:46 · update #1
Excerpts of a conversation
A quarrel over the possession of a cat was interrupted by an interloper who seized the cat.
Interloper:’If any of you can say the right word to spare the cat's life, it will be spared; otherwise I will kill it.’
Everybody looked in stupefied silence. As no one answered rightly, the interloper cut the cat into half.
An observer reported this to the judge who asked: ‘If you were present at the time, what would you do ?’
The observer removed his shoes, put them on his head, and then walked out.
2006-12-26 04:57:32 · update #2
If there's no free choice then everything that has ever happened, is happening or will happen for ever and ever and ever is already fully, absolutely and completely known.
If there's no free choice, then it's no free choice for everyone. You can't say only humans don't have free choice but other species or animals and plants do. It's either everything in the entire universe is predetermined or nothing is. One or the other, otherwise the math and logic wouldn't work.
If, BEFORE IT WAS DONE, a universe could be made and go through endless time exisitng and everything was already known - that is, every last tiny thing will happen at any point is completely known and every little peice of knowledge was totally and fully known - what the hell would be point of carrying through with it? Exactly who's little game that is our existence is this? And what massively incomprehensible moron would, if there is no free choice, essentially sit and endlessly watch a movie for the 100000000000000th time that it wrote, directed, filmed, casted, produced, created and so on??? If this is God, that's one very bored and very insane dude.
Or then maybe there is no creator or mind behind things and still there's no free will. So then what causes this? Nature? Matter, energy, space and time? This doesn't add up either. That's like the wind, by pure chance, blowing over the desert floor the words to the Declaration of Independence.
No free will = no responsibility = it doesn't matter what you do = there's no right or wrong because nothing matters. Some try to prove there's no free will for this reason. Some people also try to group humans into a spiritless animal category because it's acceptable to kill animals. There's a lot of crap out there. We are free willed. The sources of the belief that we aren't usually comes from those who have bad intentions and are trying to trick people into doing bad things.
2006-12-23 20:31:26 · answer #1 · answered by Jack 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think not. anything that I decide Is done by me in response to the world around me. To say That that is a myth would indicate to me That you are arguing the point for determinism, a belief in fate, Of a Lack of responsibilty on the part of people, That no matter what we do, It is fate that makes us do the things we do. There are many words In the english Language That sum Up my feelings about determinism, and i'll be nice about it.
Preposterous.
I have a choice no matter what I do, no matter where I go. Example. I see a Steak, A Nice Porterhouse with the works. It Looks great. I WANT IT. But I'm On a Diet. Can't eat it. So I don't. There Must be Free Choice, Because Any variety In possibility of end outcome Is a Choice, and how in The World Is That Not free? All choice is free choice, Only when there is One path there is no real choice, unless you consider Going or Not to be a Choice, which I do.
Think That Covers it. If it doesn't let me know and I'll elaborate. Enjoy and Merry Christmas
Uncle Mike.
2006-12-24 04:54:56 · answer #2 · answered by Oopaack 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Choice is ultimately a desire, desires are thoughts formed by electrical impulses in the brain by way of the subconscious mind. You didn't author those thoughts, your the observer (some call it soul or spirit) recognizing those thoughts that appear into your awareness. So yes, choice is an illusion as is free will, you simply just "are".
Limit your desires of this material world to as basic as you can comfortably live (VERY basic). You see such basic existences throughout nature. You see it in a lake, tree, flower, ect... They need what you need, water, sunlight, minerals, and (love). The love they enjoy is the same love we all seek, however only humans seek to fulfill love by external means by way of manipulation (marketing, tv, peers, doubt, misunderstanding).
If you choose to live close to this basic way as you see in nature, you'll have less choices to make, which will ultimately limit disappointments, longings, cravings, unfulfillments, desires, sexual fantasies, and any other sort of abstract thoughts that your subconscious has constructed to manipulate such illusionary (non physical) desires...or choices :).
Eventually, you'll notice that there is only one choice, and thats to exist....but really, you never had that choice either. You've always existed and always will exist. Time and energy can not be reversed so the energy inside of you can never be extinguished.
Second law of thermodynamics states that energy can never be created or destroyed, it just "is" by the mere construct of the space/time continuum we inhabit
"Time" is also a man made construct for his desire to create a beginning and an endpoint in his brain as the brain can not understand infinity....this is because the brain and YOUR THOUGHTS also have a beginning and an endpoint.
Meditate deeply and see what you really are, there you will find the truth. The truth isn't external of the self, it never has been. You want the truth? Look within.
2013-10-22 18:19:14 · answer #3 · answered by bzd 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you choose to accept responsibility for your life, then its free choice. If you want to believe that you have no control(or no responsibilities, meaning anything you achieve was not because of any effort or skill on your part) then its a myth. This is an area of current debate in the philosophic community and I suggest you read a book by ADLER called 10 Philosophical Mistakes. The basis of Christianity argues for free choice and many "modern" Philosophers and Mathematicians(randon number theory) argue against it. Besides ADLER, a careful reading list will help you to an informed opinion
2006-12-24 06:49:25 · answer #4 · answered by BANANA 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We are free to pick our one leg up, while standing, If we want to pick up the second one we are bound.
We are not born free, but with nos. of limitations and restrictions.
We are even bound to breath continuously, to live. We did not come in this world by our choice, no one have asked us, do you want to be created or not. God has took all decisions about us, as one sided, without giving us any chance to choose yes or no.
So free choice is only our in-built desire, it acts as an incentive for us to keep on moving, with a hope to get free at some time.
2006-12-24 06:08:22 · answer #5 · answered by Ishfaq A 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Free choice is ULTIMATELY a myth. Freedom has been an interesting debate daunting philosophers minds for centuries. The only real freedom is not knowing that freedom does not exist. That too will ULTIMATELY come to an end, once you have woken up to the "perfect light" of God. God is perfection. Once you see perfection, you will have free choice to decide to join the light or not join. The choice is up to you? Or is it? You were born into a specific body and mind (not by your choice) and grew up in a certain environment (not by your choice), all of which says to me that your product (which was not created by your choice) now has a decision to make. He/she will think he/she has the freedom to make this choice, but rather doesn't realize that his/her choice was the product of many set characteristics given to her without her choice (DNA and Environment). And so, now this individual will choose to join the light (a decision that was preordained for her). On top of that, to reach the "light", you must follow THE PATH OF PERFECTION. Well, there is only ONE PATH to become perfect....eliminating all free choices. Just think of it, if we had a recipe on how to become a God, we would have to follow the recipe step by step. No exceptions because God is perfect, and to become clone of this perfect entity, we must go through that recipe in ONE PERFECT WAY.
2006-12-24 06:09:08 · answer #6 · answered by alielyassi 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Free choice is often dulled or curtailed by apathy and popularity.
Popularity and apathy can in turn equate with self preservation.
For example, kids at school are picking on another kid. You are bothered by this, but for fear of rejection by your sphere of friends, you either do nothing, or actively pick on the kid as well. The former is apathy the latter a popularity based reaction. Your own sense of self preservation may keep you from exercising your "free choice" by not wishing to expose yourself to the criticism of your peers.
Our freedom of choice is hampered by our desire to fit in and be accepted.
My verdict is that free choice is an illusion. We want to believe that we can do what we want to, when we want to, but reality shows that most of us conform rather than upset our world by choosing a more difficult path.
2006-12-24 03:44:52 · answer #7 · answered by Lady Wildwood 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Free choice is neither free or a choice. With "free choice" comes a certain amount of responsibility to the rest of society. Therefore there are already restrictions before you even begin. You aren't free to decide you want to take someone's car or live in someone else's house. You can't just decide to kill someone you don't like.
Each one of those "free choices" negates another human's right to free choice as well.
Free choice is an illusion, not a myth. We have free choice but it must come with boundaries.
2006-12-24 03:08:29 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
None of us in the Western world truly have a free choice. Should we deviate from what is considered the norm we will be vilified by our peers. Try leaving your job or home schooling your kid or growing your own food and self financing.
We are on a treadmill. How we live our lives is to work to finance our possessions by which we are judged by our peers and family.
Welcome to the rat race!!
xxB
2006-12-24 03:13:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Free choice has to be a illusion since we are 'conditioned' beings. There is no situation I can conceive of that is not sequential or resulting from some other action, and so, absolute free choice cannot exist. The closest you might come is if you surrender your 'free choice '(as you know it), to another method of decision: random choice. Now that is another subject for discussion........
2006-12-24 07:11:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋