hardcorps
Sunday, June 8th, 2003, 12:10 PM
Brethren, can't we live with the paradox of free will? Here's my take:
Eternal Recurrence of the Same [ERS] and determinism are probably true in the completely objective sense. But we must will them into being.
Here's an analogy. For me to have the truth of ERS uppermost in my mind is like me sitting in a bar ogling an attractive girl. I do nothing to overcome my inertia and approach her. When I do pluck up the courage to approach her, it is necessary to have the concept of free will uppermost in my mind. If I continue thinking that 'what will be will be,' I will remain motionless.
I see the concept of pure determinism, and ERS, as being akin to an infinite loop in a computer program. The effect of learning the concept of determinism was for me something my brain just could not get past. It suspended my will to power for a long time. Determinism has the potential to cause extreme depression.
In fact I believe those profoundly sensitive individuals who absolutely believe in determinism with their entire souls will break down. They will sit down and not get up. I think of the holy men of eastern religions. I also wonder if something like this wasn't a cause of Nietzsche's eventual beakdown. His works certainly oscillated betwen emphasis on nihilism (exemplified by ERS) and anti-nihilism (will to power).
I think we have to live with the paradox: scientifically, determinism is the truth. Practically, it is useful to hold and trumpet the concept of freewill. I think most people, even the philosophical adherents of ERS and determinism, actually operate with the assumption freewill. We must live with the paradox. Perhaps some sort of higher dimension would resolve this paradox?
Eternal Recurrence of the Same [ERS] and determinism are probably true in the completely objective sense. But we must will them into being.
Here's an analogy. For me to have the truth of ERS uppermost in my mind is like me sitting in a bar ogling an attractive girl. I do nothing to overcome my inertia and approach her. When I do pluck up the courage to approach her, it is necessary to have the concept of free will uppermost in my mind. If I continue thinking that 'what will be will be,' I will remain motionless.
I see the concept of pure determinism, and ERS, as being akin to an infinite loop in a computer program. The effect of learning the concept of determinism was for me something my brain just could not get past. It suspended my will to power for a long time. Determinism has the potential to cause extreme depression.
In fact I believe those profoundly sensitive individuals who absolutely believe in determinism with their entire souls will break down. They will sit down and not get up. I think of the holy men of eastern religions. I also wonder if something like this wasn't a cause of Nietzsche's eventual beakdown. His works certainly oscillated betwen emphasis on nihilism (exemplified by ERS) and anti-nihilism (will to power).
I think we have to live with the paradox: scientifically, determinism is the truth. Practically, it is useful to hold and trumpet the concept of freewill. I think most people, even the philosophical adherents of ERS and determinism, actually operate with the assumption freewill. We must live with the paradox. Perhaps some sort of higher dimension would resolve this paradox?