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dickieC · 12-20-2002, 10:11 PM

Uh-oh

Philosophy

My brain hurts already.

The free-will-vs.-determinism dichotomy. Personally I think it's a matter for neuroscience and we just have to wait for the boffins to figure out the brain. Philosophy has posed this question for centuries and all the reasoning power applied hasn't answered this one. Some people try to argue (if I recall correctly) that it's false to pose the question as a dualism, that the two concepts are not actually opposed, or, further indeed, that it makes no sense to speak of free will exercised in a non-deterministic world. That is, that choice cannot operate without cause-and-effect, but NOT that a simple mechanistic concept of causation denies the agency of the choser. Me, I can't follow this and revert to a mechanistic determinism. And when I'm down, it's fatalism. (The most fun I ever had in Philosophy was working out the distinction between determinism and fatalism).

I would be interested to learn from people who've actually done neuroscience if this is good philosophy or not. These aren't my ideas I hasten to add.

P.S. Now you can all tell I'm not a proper philosopher.

P.P.S. Silly.

beckstra · 12-20-2002, 10:12 PM

I thought it was beautiful.

Deviate · 12-20-2002, 10:19 PM

NYC, i love you. oh, and i am very drunk.

-st.

masterofNone · 12-20-2002, 10:50 PM

That which is, is a cookie. That which is not, is rum-raisin ice cream.

masterofNone · 12-21-2002, 12:27 PM

I have summed up my philosophy quite nicely and now I leave you all to use as many words as you like to reach the same conclusion.

brevity is the soul of .... I fergit.

amanda · 12-21-2002, 12:59 PM

short-attention spans.

lapietra · 12-23-2002, 07:24 PM

HEY!!!!
I already posted about this!!!!!
...but your description was better...

I love it. It works on so many levels - the way a truly great movie should - I've seen it a few times now on video & get something a little different from it every time.

12-20-2002, 09:23 PM	#1
nycwriters Stuck in T.O. Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Floundering Posts: 4,134	Waking Life . Last edited by nycwriters : 01-15-2004 at 06:14 PM.

12-20-2002, 10:11 PM	#2
dickieC Professional ZeMonkey Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Back in Oxford Posts: 1,841	Uh-oh Philosophy My brain hurts already. The free-will-vs.-determinism dichotomy. Personally I think it's a matter for neuroscience and we just have to wait for the boffins to figure out the brain. Philosophy has posed this question for centuries and all the reasoning power applied hasn't answered this one. Some people try to argue (if I recall correctly) that it's false to pose the question as a dualism, that the two concepts are not actually opposed, or, further indeed, that it makes no sense to speak of free will exercised in a non-deterministic world. That is, that choice cannot operate without cause-and-effect, but NOT that a simple mechanistic concept of causation denies the agency of the choser. Me, I can't follow this and revert to a mechanistic determinism. And when I'm down, it's fatalism. (The most fun I ever had in Philosophy was working out the distinction between determinism and fatalism). I would be interested to learn from people who've actually done neuroscience if this is good philosophy or not. These aren't my ideas I hasten to add. P.S. Now you can all tell I'm not a proper philosopher. P.P.S. Silly. __________________ "Why do I keep falling in love with every woman who shows me the slightest attention?" Joel, ESSM

12-20-2002, 10:12 PM	#3
beckstra one classy broad Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Cornhusker State Posts: 1,229	I thought it was beautiful. __________________ I'd rather be making out.

12-23-2002, 07:24 PM	#8
lapietra half baked Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: just ducky Posts: 12,078	HEY!!!! I already posted about this!!!!! ...but your description was better... I love it. It works on so many levels - the way a truly great movie should - I've seen it a few times now on video & get something a little different from it every time. __________________ “As long as the world is turning and spinning, we're gonna be dizzy and we're gonna make mistakes.” ~ Mel Brooks

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12-20-2002, 10:19 PM	#4
Deviate Butt-F***ing the World Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: the other side of normal Posts: 5,863	NYC, i love you. oh, and i am very drunk. -st.

12-20-2002, 10:50 PM	#5
masterofNone ________ Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,131	That which is, is a cookie. That which is not, is rum-raisin ice cream.

12-21-2002, 12:27 PM	#6
masterofNone ________ Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,131	I have summed up my philosophy quite nicely and now I leave you all to use as many words as you like to reach the same conclusion. brevity is the soul of .... I fergit.

12-21-2002, 12:59 PM	#7
amanda old s'cool Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,426	short-attention spans.