tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953690364532718935.post5783879920786705202..comments2024-03-10T15:20:30.552-05:00Comments on stmhumanities: Free Will and DualismMrs.Qhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17626503384057111894noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953690364532718935.post-40902675013144898892014-01-22T12:32:25.518-06:002014-01-22T12:32:25.518-06:00I'm also often confused about the concept of ...I'm also often confused about the concept of free-will. When I think about predestination I don't think of it as contradicting free-will. I don't see predestination as some other force determining your actions. We determine our own actions but this other force or God already knows which decisions we are going to make. He doesn't decide for us, he is just aware of what we will choose. Still, I don't believe in predestination. I also see how predestination can lead to nihilism. If someone thinks that his or her fate is already determined, he or she won't try to act in anyway to improve his or her fate. But the problem with this assumption about predestination is that this person assumed that his or her fate was already decided for them, he or she thinks we cannot control our destiny, which leads to nihilism. I don't think predestination tries to suggest that God has already determined our fate. We still determine our own fate but we are basically like a reality show, minus all the planned drama. We live our lives however we want, we make our own decisions, there is no script for us to follow. God, the viewer of the reality show, has not control over our decisions, but he knows what decisions we will make because he has already seen the show. Basically he had a DVR and can rewind and fast forward the show. So he sees it once and knows the decisions the characters will make. The second time he watches it he knows what decisions they will make but he doesn't have control over it. He is only aware of what choices we will make, he doesn't determine our fates for us. That's the way I like to think of it. I'm not sure if it makes much sense.... it's a lot harder to explain but it makes sense in my head ahha. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16717736778346453780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953690364532718935.post-11244950326965278652014-01-22T12:32:24.118-06:002014-01-22T12:32:24.118-06:00I'm also often confused about the concept of ...I'm also often confused about the concept of free-will. When I think about predestination I don't think of it as contradicting free-will. I don't see predestination as some other force determining your actions. We determine our own actions but this other force or God already knows which decisions we are going to make. He doesn't decide for us, he is just aware of what we will choose. Still, I don't believe in predestination. I also see how predestination can lead to nihilism. If someone thinks that his or her fate is already determined, he or she won't try to act in anyway to improve his or her fate. But the problem with this assumption about predestination is that this person assumed that his or her fate was already decided for them, he or she thinks we cannot control our destiny, which leads to nihilism. I don't think predestination tries to suggest that God has already determined our fate. We still determine our own fate but we are basically like a reality show, minus all the planned drama. We live our lives however we want, we make our own decisions, there is no script for us to follow. God, the viewer of the reality show, has not control over our decisions, but he knows what decisions we will make because he has already seen the show. Basically he had a DVR and can rewind and fast forward the show. So he sees it once and knows the decisions the characters will make. The second time he watches it he knows what decisions they will make but he doesn't have control over it. He is only aware of what choices we will make, he doesn't determine our fates for us. That's the way I like to think of it. I'm not sure if it makes much sense.... it's a lot harder to explain but it makes sense in my head ahha. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16717736778346453780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3953690364532718935.post-45838032504870830212014-01-18T23:58:14.957-06:002014-01-18T23:58:14.957-06:00I agree with you Ian, the concept of free will con...I agree with you Ian, the concept of free will confuses me also. I know this is a little off topic, but I always think back to the first time I learned about predestination in history class. The idea that humans have free will but their choices are already determined and known seems contradictory to me. I thought about it and thought about it, and came to the conclusion that it is indeed contradictory because how could a person have free will if their choice has already been made in the over all scheme of things. I would think this would encourage complacency as people would say, "I am either going to heaven or hell already, so why try to be better?" (I know this is a very, very simplified statement) I definitely see this complacent and nihilistic attitude in the underground man because he has lost hope in becoming a better person. He doesn't think he is able to change, yet he regards free will as the most important human privilege and capability.Kincy GIbsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16439302700052477135noreply@blogger.com