Blog post -- A post relating to so-called "free will"

neutralrobotboy Sat Feb 06, 2010 2:02 am

This post outlines some of my thoughts relating to how "free will" is viewed. I'm not sure how interesting fellow digimobsters might find it, but here it is anyhow:

http://nis-esoterica.blogspot.com/2010/01/free-will.html

What do I hope the reader will take away from all this this? I guess a few things, but these three in particular:

1. Free will is not a boolean value.

2. Judgment of others is a tricky matter. What functions does the other person have real control over, and to what degree? You do not know. Know yourself first.

3. You (yes, YOU!) (YES! YOU!) do not have control over the mechanisms of your being. You function largely as a reactive biological machine (just like how you think all those other stupid people work). This is true regardless of your education. By increasing your awareness and calming yourself down, some aspects of this condition may be partially alleviated.

ankh_f_n_khonsu Sat Feb 06, 2010 2:25 pm

Read any Descartes?

sendoshin Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:45 pm

I think it is important to read the entire blog post, because you make some very good points. "Free will" isn't something you have or don't. It's a degree of control over yourself - and your environment. Whether that freedom truly exists or is but mere illusion is beside the point that it, as you say, isn't a boolean (on/off, for those not versed in computers/electronics or logic) value. Quite insightful post.

- Sendoshin

neutralrobotboy Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:25 pm

ankh_f_n_khonsu wrote:Read any Descartes?

What little I've read has left me much more impressed with his mathematical mind than his philosophy; though I'm not a mathematician, so maybe I'm easily impressed there. Actually, I kinda have been left with the impression that he was a philosophical idiot, and I'm astounded at how long some of his ideas have been taken seriously... Why exactly do you ask?

ankh_f_n_khonsu Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:39 pm

Oh, no, I wouldn't recommend him without caveats, but his writings on free will seem like they'd be relevant to your line of reflection.

Frater_NS Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:46 pm

My 2 cents worth.

Most people spend the majority of their life completely asleep and in many their Nephesh is entirely in the driving seat.

How can these people claim "free will" if they are oblivious of why they react, think, behave and have emotions responses?

sendoshin Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:29 pm

Probably because they are oblivious that they should even ask such questions, or that there might be answers.

- Sendoshin

Frater_NS Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:45 pm

Khephra Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:42 pm

To add further credence to Fr. N.S.'s observation (not that it necessarily needs any), Gurdjieff argued quite similarly - he called it the 'Law of Accident':

Gurdjieff taught that man in his undeveloped state was subject to the law of accident. Unless we are able to take our lives in hand with consciousness and will, we cannot effectively do anything; we are bounced around by circumstance like coins in a pocket. And it was precisely to exempt oneself from this law of accident that one undertook the Work. (Lumen)

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