Quote:
Originally Posted by infinitethoughts  Reminds of a technique used by Lawyers that know they will lose.
Michael.
We all know what the above terms mean.
Let's move on, shall we? |
Thanks for the condescension. Let me show you what I see.
InJoy stated that, "free will is the ability to choose freely, even randomly, whenever I want."
What does "freely" mean? Freedom is a balance between restriction and expression. For expression to properly occur, it must first be restrained. You can express abstract thought on paper more powerfully through the constraint of an alphabet. Thus, to be free first means to be restricted. In which case, it must be asked, how is choice therefore restricted?
What does "randomly" mean? Randomness, as defined as a purely chaotic selection, does not occur in nature. It does not occur in computers. It does not occur in events. Randomness is a failure to perceive the order underlying the apparent chaos, not an expression of that chaos itself.
What does "I" mean? Where are the limits to who you are? Do you, by "I", refer to your body? Do you refer to Jung's collective unconsciousness? Do you refer to Steve's God-consciousness, or subjective reality? Are you considering just how extensive your self may, actually, be?
What does "want" mean? Want suggests a desire, but more pointedly, an inessential desire. In the definition provided, want is referred to in relation to the word "choice". Are you suggesting that choice is therefore inessential?
What does "will" mean? Will may refer to the strength of mind a person has, or it may refer to their sovereignty. In the former case, it is a passive attribute; in the latter, an active characteristic. If a person has the ability to change their mind at will, is this change passive or active?
But I suppose it is entirely wrong of me to ask first, and allow them to speak their mind--of their own free will--rather than to contaminate their thoughts first by introducing my own perspective into the discussion immediately, and so forcing them to include my ideas, which may be entirely wrong, in the conversation despite the fact that they initiated it by putting forward something to consider on the table.
And thanks for ignoring the fact that I asked InJoy to not feel obligated to answer every single one.