Assuming everything in the universe works according to a fixed set of laws, then surely events can only possibly follow one specific path? This is basic cause and effect; events occur as a direct result of preceding events. For something different to have happened, the preceding events would need to have been different, or the laws of physics would have to be broken. This would include anything from a star exploding right down to a particular synapse in your brain firing and you deciding to do something a particular way.
2007-07-27 08:57:31 · 22 answers · asked by adacam 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I'm offering my opinion lars, I want to know what other people think!
2007-07-27 09:03:02 · update #1
If you are a materialist, you are a determinist, that's just how it works. If you believe that everything in the universe is made of matter (of some sort), then yes choice is an illusion. This is what happens if you take the assumptions which you make in your question. Of course there is much argument and much to be said about whether or not to accept your assumptions...but for the purposes of this answer, I will accept them...
You're right, if everything in the universe is material and follows a fixed set of laws, choice is an illusion. The logical argument would look like this:
1. Everything in the universe follows a fixed set of laws.
2. Brains are part of the universe
Sub-Conclusion: Brains follow a fixed set of laws.
3. "Choices" are made in the brain, which follows a fixed set of laws.
Therefore: Every "choice" was determined by the fixed set of universal laws and could not have been made otherwise.
The assumptions you made in your question are the premises of this argument, so IF you take your assumptions, you will arrive at the conclusion that choice is an illusion.
2007-07-27 09:04:10 · answer #1 · answered by Nunayer Beezwax 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well what's the point of choosing to ask the question if you have no choice? Of course choice is real you nitwit! What is the matter with people these days? "Oh... it's just destiny and the laws of physics that murder or the KKK is around, so I'll just roll with it." People come on!!! This is not only a bunch of hooey, it's dangerous! You've got to make choices! Or, at least assume that you live as if such things are real.
Besides, the laws of the universe include a hell of a lot randomness. If everything was based on complete order, nothing would happen! It'd all be one big cube or something. It would just go in one direction. That's the beauty - infinite chances are possible from each point in time..
Yeah, things are determined to up to this point. But why do you people get so friggin confused that the future is fixed like the past? It's not duh! The past doesn't have to be different for the future to be different.
2007-07-28 01:44:51 · answer #2 · answered by JAppleseed013 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What you say does have significance, but you are talking at a large scale. It's like the example with the river and the stone: Drop a stone in a river and the river just passes over it as if it were never there. This means that most of our individual acts do not affect destiny on a bigger plan, in short, we decide upon our own lives but not the destiny of everything else. If what you say is true then the Universal Laws should prevent me from acting on my own will, however I think there are certain fluctuation within this law that allow decisions that do not affect the time-line directly. However if there were a large number of individuals trying to divert from their set destinies then the law could not prevent them from doing what they desire, seeing as eliminating them would alter the law itself, so the stream would either change or accept the actions of these individuals as another fluctuation.
But choice is always there, predestined decisions exist, in other words a river that splits in to parallel streams, these streams being different futures. But to say that an individual choice will decide which stream the present shall fallow is absurd, so our collective choices and will decide upon the stream.
At least that is how I see things.
2007-07-27 09:11:35 · answer #3 · answered by Faust 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
But don't things like that, like the predictability of things are only possible if there is an equation that can combine both classical mechanics and quantum and other types of mechanics? I also read (I think this was in Hawking's book) that such an equation may not even exist.
So you can't really say you don't have a choice, cos you don't know if those things really directly affect everything in a sort of a chain reaction type thing.
2007-07-27 09:45:43 · answer #4 · answered by Triathlete88 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think Nunayer here pretty much said it all...other opinions are valid as well, it's all very interesting...I'm just wondering how you put the concept of 'choice' together with the laws of nature.
The law is the rule, the choice is the exception. It's either law or choice...I wonder if there's anything else. I wonder if there's a choice after we choose.
Good luck!
2007-07-27 09:37:21 · answer #5 · answered by Alex 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time is an illusion, and lunchtime doubly so.
I have changed the future of stuff by simply pointing folks in the right direction at work, and lo and behold, things differ.
I shall now go and play my Grandfathers violin, violently,
This will make little difference to the future of the planet.
Hopefully.
2007-07-27 09:11:13 · answer #6 · answered by Bob the Boat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All sensible people will take the best choice available as they see it... This means you only have one choice which is no choice at all....
But is all the material world just an individually pschosomatic illusion/delusion built by the interactions with everyone elses illusion/delusion.;
I think therefore I am and I think you think you are.
2007-07-27 14:41:51 · answer #7 · answered by mark b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check Out Teilhard de Chardin
Will You? Won`t You? Will You Join The Dance?
2007-07-29 06:25:32 · answer #8 · answered by sorbus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pre ordained ...destiny...spiritual pathway ..karma ...the guidance of the universe ...we have choices to listen to ourselves ...in your own answered question you have set the "laws" but how can anyone predict or assume that this is so ? you might say hypothetically ? we may have a specific path set out but we do not always follow as we don't know what it may be so therefor we do make choices ...right or wrong ones ...so cause and effect might not balance out in one lifetime ...it may take many ??...
2007-07-27 12:00:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
See that's what's wrong with the world. We are living in a society where the laws of physics are not enforced as they should be. First time offenders usually get a slap on the wrist and that's all. I think it should be a felony to break any law of physics.
2007-07-27 09:11:42 · answer #10 · answered by Art Vandelay 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋