Tiexandria
07-01-2005, 12:53
In many fora I've come across arguments like this; "I make of myself what I will" and "We are the consequences of our actions and choices in the past.". They are all well and fine if one doesn’t use both of them. Because they are contradictory, just bare with me on this.
First of all, if every choice I make effects my conscience, my mind, me, then what I am now is not the same thing that I was a second ago or 10 years ago. So basically I didn’t make that decision to eat that pizza yesterday that changed the essence of me. It was something other it was me before that choice affected me.
Could this mean that I can’t make of myself what I will, in any case, or are the premises flawed? Can I be considered essentially the same being that I was 10 years ago? If so then can I change at all, or am I doomed to live as destiny or something other beyond my control made me? Don’t I have a say in this? If no then can anyone be held responsible of their actions, after all they didn’t make those decisions themselves, no it was the past beings that made the bad decisions? Obviously there is some middle way between the two extremes. If so, how and where does one draw the lines?
Ah, well I guess it’s just another predestination vs. free will thread.
So what do you think? (Other than “Dude what the hell is that guy smoking, and where did he get it?)
P.S. I know that it's good to make your own POW clear when opening a new thread, but it's a rather hard question to answer. If someone absolutely wants to know what I think, then I must say that I'd rather lean more to predestination but still remain in the between. :eek:
First of all, if every choice I make effects my conscience, my mind, me, then what I am now is not the same thing that I was a second ago or 10 years ago. So basically I didn’t make that decision to eat that pizza yesterday that changed the essence of me. It was something other it was me before that choice affected me.
Could this mean that I can’t make of myself what I will, in any case, or are the premises flawed? Can I be considered essentially the same being that I was 10 years ago? If so then can I change at all, or am I doomed to live as destiny or something other beyond my control made me? Don’t I have a say in this? If no then can anyone be held responsible of their actions, after all they didn’t make those decisions themselves, no it was the past beings that made the bad decisions? Obviously there is some middle way between the two extremes. If so, how and where does one draw the lines?
Ah, well I guess it’s just another predestination vs. free will thread.
So what do you think? (Other than “Dude what the hell is that guy smoking, and where did he get it?)
P.S. I know that it's good to make your own POW clear when opening a new thread, but it's a rather hard question to answer. If someone absolutely wants to know what I think, then I must say that I'd rather lean more to predestination but still remain in the between. :eek: