Free Will

[Sol]

Sternwallow wrote

It does not seem nobler to me that, when an animal takes a bite out of the jugular of another animal, it is done without emotion, but when a human takes a bite out of another human's jugular, it is through malice if not outright hatred.

Small note: An animal does have an emotion, however because it cannot self-reference and communicate an emotion one has to use the term affective state. They do have an emotional context when killing.
(small point of order. hope its not to pedantic. )
Your point is still valid.

It seems to me that humans bring the reverse of nobility to otherwise morally neutral behaviors.

[Sternwallow]

Sol wrote

Small note: An animal does have an emotion, however because it cannot self-reference and communicate an emotion one has to use the term affective state. They do have an emotional context when killing.
(small point of order. hope its not to pedantic. )

It would be lacking in self-awareness of me to think or claim that anyone's writing is too pedantic.

Cal's posts avoid being pedantic by their lack of substantive content.

[Sol]

Sternwallow wrote

It would be lacking in self-awareness of me to think or claim that anyone's writing is too pedantic.

Cal's posts avoid being pedantic by their lack of substantive content.

When do you think it would be a good time to let Cal know that I'm close to someone with Temporal lobe epilepsy that at no point in their life has had a "god delusion" although at one point did believe in Santa Claus.

[Gnosital]

Smellyoldgit wrote

I'd rather have a full bottle in front of me, than a full frontal lobo ....
[/bad joke]

Perhaps, but still a classic.

And troo, although I don't mind full frontal other things.

[Gnosital]

Philboid Studge wrote

What is "self-determine" ?

Yes, let's all be very conscious for a moment and self determine ourselves.

[Gnosital]

thomastwo wrote

So riddle me this. In your universe with no free will did you all self-determine to be atheists? Could you have self-determined a different outcome?

I just can't quite make out what it is about this question that sounds a little free willy.......

[Gnosital]

thomastwo wrote

Did the biological system which is your self have an option between two contingent futures, both of which were possible outcomes depending on your evaluation and choice?

I cannot help but be the biological system that I am. That system reacts to its environment in predictable ways, given knowledge of internal states and past experience. *

This biological system just happens to be hard wired to automatically weigh counter points of arguments, to consider sources, and to disparage nonsensical evidence. Those characteristics result in predictable responses to stimuli consisting of unfounded illogical statements, such as sky daddies and re-animated zombie dudes who command us to eat them.

In short, this biological system is smart and skeptical. What is YOUR biological system hard wired to do?


* at the risk of being banned again.....

[Gnosital]

Irreligious wrote

Given how you've lived your life thus far, thomastwo, can you choose, without threats or prompting, to believe that Muhammad is God's final prophet?

......
It's not a choice. It's what is.

You are teh awesomesauce! It's good to be back.

[Gnosital]

Sternwallow wrote

About your reference to beasties, I like to go bump in the night.

Who doesn't!

It seems to me that humans bring the reverse of nobility to otherwise morally neutral behaviors.

But then again...I love you man!!!

[Gnosital]

Sol wrote

Small note: An animal does have an emotion, however because it cannot self-reference and communicate an emotion one has to use the term affective state. They do have an emotional context when killing.
(small point of order. hope its not to pedantic. )
Your point is still valid.

Do I detect another physiological psychologist perchance???

[thomastwo]

Irreligious wrote

Given how you've lived your life thus far, thomastwo, can you choose, without threats or prompting, to believe that Muhammad is God's final prophet?

Yes, I can. Which is not to say I would of course. But there are many people who have changed religions or become atheist. Such a thing is clearly possible.

The question isn't can the change be made. Rather is the choice determined? Could another choice be made?

What do you think? Is your conscious experience of choosing illusory?

Irreligious wrote

I'd say you don't exactly choose to believe something. You either believe it or you don't. The reasons why you believe are going to be dependent on a variety of internal and external factors, including critical thinking skills, culture and early indoctrination, to name a few.

I think the evaluation of the reasons, the internal and external factors and the applied skills are the choice.

[Sternwallow]

Sol wrote

When do you think it would be a good time to let Cal know that I'm close to someone with Temporal lobe epilepsy that at no point in their life has had a "god delusion" although at one point did believe in Santa Claus.

Santa is all about presents so I say, no time like the present!

[Sternwallow]

Gnosital wrote

Yes, let's all be very conscious for a moment and self determine ourselves.

Yes, but, what is inside the driver's head, another driver?

[Sternwallow]

Gnosital wrote

Who doesn't!




But then again...I love you man!!!

But then again, love is seldom morally neutral or negative so feel free to pile on all the nobility you like.

[Kate]