h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In my opinion, the trouble with determinism is when it degenates from a philosophy into a moral code, (And let's face it, while it has a defendable position in the first category, it is deplorable in the second.) ie: when people use it as an excuse to do whatever they want with out having to deal with guilt.

Example: "Well, I want to have sex now, but I shouldn't because (I don't know this guy and he might have a disease, or I might get pregnant or it is wrong to do so before I get married. Whichever is your primary concern.) But I guess that since I don't have free will, then whatever happens is outside of my control." Then she goes and has sex and gets AIDS and blames fate/God/whatever.

All I'm saying is that even if you think that determinism is right, we still have to *act* as if we have free will and our choices matter... Because we can't tell the difference between free will and determinism on the level of existance we are on right now anyway and if we allow ourselves to just do whatever and not worry about the consequences of our actions, then, I believe, humanity will de-evolve back into animals constantly searching to satisfy their Id....

I suppose that the above degenerates into the psycological argument in your article... I just thought I'd stick that little disclaimer in.

I loved the article as a disection of the various arguments for and against free will, though! It was a great piece! I can't wait to see what you've got for the communitee next!

Always Yours,
Lucrecia

Comedian Flip Wilson had fun with this kind of thinking as the character "Geraldine" (in drag): "The devil made me buy that dress!"

My dad has an old LP of Flip Wilson's with that routine on it!

-Lucrecia

I had to cross post that one to the "What makes Me Feel Old?" conversation.

Sorry! Didn't mean to make you feel !

-Lucrecia

No problem .