that would seem to me to be the ultimate freedom~
2007-12-17 22:12:58 · 11 answers · asked by Alex 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
You ARE free to make that choice to an extent. But it's not like switching on a light bulb.
Think about it. I'm sure there are things you used to love but now you don't so much. Like the Teletubbies. While it may seem that you made that transition against your will, ask your WHY did you like it before and not now? What has probably changed is that you have become more sophisticated in your entertainment preferences, advanced in learning to the point where nothing there is new, or convinced yourself that such material is inappropriate for what you are 'supposed' to be doing.
And while you can't just DECIDE to like it again, you can change some of those things that contribute to your liking it or not. So to continue our example, you might choose to watch the show in a different way than a child does... you could choose to analyze the sociological decisions in design that make it appealing to children, or attempt to simulate the kind of thinking that appreciates what you are seeing, or you could decide that the social pressures that tell you what you 'should' be doing are a big crock of garbage. When my son was young enough to enjoy Teletubbies, I used to listen to heavy metal thrash music in headphones and found the contrast of images of the show and the sounds I was hearing absolutely hilarious.
The only way you are limited in this choice is by your biological sensory apparatus... and even that can be compensated for to some extent. You cannot choose to see infrared, but you can wear goggles that do. You can't choose to taste sweet instead of bitter coffee, unless you dump a bunch of sugar in it. These limitations aren't usually things that stop you... just things that impose a cost if you wish to proceed.
And this is the point. People learn to overcome their fears. They learn to avoid appealing things that ultimately cause them harm. They learn what they need to do to like or dislike experiences in their life. It's not automatic, but it happens all the time.
2007-12-18 04:21:29 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You totally are free to choose what you like. Perhaps you might be swayed by popular opinion, but ultimately you do get to choose.
What you like and dislike is a personal choice, no one can take that from you. They may not let you have the object, but that does not make you stop liking it.
2007-12-18 08:05:03 · answer #2 · answered by Stiffler 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because a lot of your reactions to certain people, events and concepts are based solely or in large part on your preconceived notions about what things are. Your upbringing and past experiences define what you assume about things that you don't like. While you may not be able to control how much you like something, you can choose to investigate any truth behind your negative feelings towards something. You can also control your tolerance to that thing. Sometimes if you tolerate something rather than outright rejecting it, you could find that your negative assumptions were (at least partly) unfounded.
2007-12-18 06:49:41 · answer #3 · answered by existenceisrelative 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are swayed by people around us, our family and the nature of the media into what we like and don't like when we are young. As we grow older those things solidify but as an adult Im pretty sure we on SOME level make the decision to like or dislike something. As it is our will.
2007-12-18 07:28:58 · answer #4 · answered by ~{The Contessa}~ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are maybe referring to Schopenhauer's (?) ) quote : You can get what you want , but you can't want what you'll want. Or something like that.
We are free to an extent but you are talking about total freedom, a sort of Adam and Eve in Paradise. But with that we are into a religious discussion.
2007-12-18 11:54:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course we are free, but we must be prepared for the corresponding consequences..... ultimate freedom lies in getting rid of the fear of consequences.
2007-12-18 06:20:23 · answer #6 · answered by small 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it will never be like that because every opinion we've ever had has been affected/ influenced by your upbringing, the people around you, what you should choose instead of what you want to choose. we are a mixture of all the people we've ever been in contact with...
we are also influenced by advertising, fashions, the majority vote- you dont want to be the odd one out...
we ARE free to choose what we want, but we never really know what that is anymore, so its hard to pay due attention to yourself...
2007-12-18 07:41:00 · answer #7 · answered by eden.minx 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We are free to choose what we like and dislike...we just can't do anything about it.
2007-12-18 06:25:02 · answer #8 · answered by RT 66 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. We're not free. I can't choose to like roller coasters, for example. I don't and that's it. I can't choose to like red wine.
2007-12-18 06:43:18 · answer #9 · answered by Matthew T 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes but thats again law
2007-12-18 07:57:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋