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What is free will?

Forums: Free Will, Philosophy, Logic, Determinism, Definition
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JLNobody
 
  1  
Reply Tue 31 Jan, 2012 06:22 pm
@Cyracuz,
(As I see it right now) art is seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary and mysticism is seeing the unity of everything*, the extraordinary and the ordinary.

*especially the unity of this subject and all its perceieved objects.
0 Replies
 
Rickoshay75
 
  1  
Reply Mon 14 May, 2012 03:36 pm
@coolcubed,
coolcubed wrote:


Anyway, as part of my quest for enlightenment



If you are really seeking enlightenment, not just an epiphany, you need to associate with someone or group that teaches it. Landmark Education (an est spinoff) is a good place to start.
Rickoshay75
 
  1  
Reply Mon 14 May, 2012 04:25 pm
@joefromchicago,
joefromchicago wrote:

coolcubed wrote:
You could say that although "we" are capable of making
choices, "we" are not capable of deciding who "we" are, and how "we" will
make those choices.

That's pretty much what Schopenhauer said.

coolcubed wrote:
Both of them agreed that there is more to free will than the ability to
make choices, but beyond that, I didn't get any real answers.


No, that's what free will is -- the ability to make undetermined choices. There's really nothing more to it.


Today's choices are mostly replays of similar choices we made before, feeling that it's the right thing to do, feeling, not deciding, but we can and do change our choices when and if our feelings favors it.

0 Replies
 
Cyracuz
 
  1  
Reply Tue 15 May, 2012 05:57 am
@Rickoshay75,
Quote:
If you are really seeking enlightenment, not just an epiphany, you need to associate with someone or group that teaches it. Landmark Education (an est spinoff) is a good place to start.


You don't need that actually. You only need to want it and work towards it. Do you think the famous Buddha enrolled in a school where they taught enlightenment? Smile
Rickoshay75
 
  1  
Reply Tue 15 May, 2012 12:43 pm
@Cyracuz,
Cyracuz wrote:

Quote:
If you are really seeking enlightenment, not just an epiphany, you need to associate with someone or group that teaches it. Landmark Education (an est spinoff) is a good place to start.


You don't need that actually. You only need to want it and work towards it. Do you think the famous Buddha enrolled in a school where they taught enlightenment? Smile


The Buddha was closer to nature than we are today, and nature and metaphors are important parts of enlightenment
Cyracuz
 
  1  
Reply Tue 15 May, 2012 03:51 pm
@Rickoshay75,
"Closer to nature" is your perspective, and frankly, your opinion. We have little or no information about that.
An important part of the journey is questioning one's own assumptions...
Rickoshay75
 
  1  
Reply Tue 15 May, 2012 04:25 pm
@Cyracuz,
Cyracuz wrote:

"Closer to nature" is your perspective, and frankly, your opinion. We have little or no information about that.
An important part of the journey is questioning one's own assumptions...


How does one question his own assumptions, with more assumptions?
Cyracuz
 
  1  
Reply Tue 15 May, 2012 04:58 pm
@Rickoshay75,
Perhaps. Perhaps not. A good question to ask oneself is "what do I really know".

What can be known? Are there things that cannot be known, things we can only form beliefs and assumptions about? Which things are those? Are such things and concepts valid just because we can think them up?
Procrustes
 
  1  
Reply Wed 16 May, 2012 07:04 am
@Cyracuz,
That depends on what an individual considers to be valid knowledge.
Cyracuz
 
  1  
Reply Wed 16 May, 2012 08:36 am
@Procrustes,
Perhaps. There's an irony in this, because every day we meet individuals who are so sure they are right in what they know, and walk around in self-justified misery. They just don't understand. All we can know is illusion because at the base of it all is the knower, to whom knowledge is merely a function. Without that context, all we know is useless. So if what you think you know makes you miserable, what is the greater sacrifice; admitting to yourself that you might be wrong, or enduring a life that you understand to be miserable? To me the answer is simple...
Procrustes
 
  1  
Reply Wed 16 May, 2012 08:53 am
@Cyracuz,
Understand what exactly? And what is this simple answer?
Cyracuz
 
  1  
Reply Wed 16 May, 2012 12:26 pm
@Procrustes,
The simple answer is that I'd sacrifice my pride for peace of mind every time. To say "I don't know" is opening oneself up to knowledge and understanding. If a person is miserable and unhappy with life, and still thinks he or she has it all figured out, that person isn't very wise.
JLNobody
 
  1  
Reply Wed 16 May, 2012 06:17 pm
@Cyracuz,
Yes, the very need to have everything figured out is both a symptom and cause of a miserable life.
Procrustes
 
  1  
Reply Thu 17 May, 2012 06:24 am
@JLNobody,
Indeed. Yet I still don't know why... But not really phased.
0 Replies
 
 

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