T_Clark

Note that this refers to the multiverse associated with cosmic inflation and not the one associated with the multiple worlds interpretation of quantum...

Do they still make it? I'd like to get a gift of white-out. I know the money would go to Mike Nesmith.

I often call myself a pragmatist, so suspecting me of some bias is probably reasonable. Still, every philosopher who denies the possibility of certain...

I guess we have no choice but to ask what decision should we make in a world where we can not make decisions.

Too many philosophers with too much time on their hands. In this world, everyone knows you put your money down and take your chances. That rubs some p...

Not quite. All houses are subject to possibly being ruined by natural disaster, but I need somewhere to live, so I'll do the best I can. That seems li...

No. I don't agree, although this may be outside the specified scope of this discussion. Accountability is one mechanism by which people face the conse...

I might have some quibbles with some of this, but I think you and I mostly agree.

I was probably unclear - I meant that the difference doesn't matter from the point of view of whether free will is involved, i.e. a decision made subc...

My resolution is never to make any resolution involving @"Hanover". Take that Russell.

Are our actions different if we assume no free will is involved than if we assume there is?

Clearly, people's actions are controlled by factors outside their control to some extent. People who are abused as children tend to abuse others. Peop...

I agree. Ok. Or maybe neither statement is true. I think they are metaphysical statements. You're new here, so you haven't heard my never-ending refra...

I am very aware that my actions "pop into consciousness from hidden areas of the brain." Do you think that means they are somehow not as much part of ...

I don't understand. Are you saying that only people who agree to be judged should be held accountable? I'm pretty sure you're not saying that. I reall...

This is close to my take on the matter, although I can't speak for Aristotle as you seemingly can. No, no. It was the fact that my mother, true to her...

I find pure materialist physics very unconvincing, worse than unconvincing - meaningless. But this is not the place to go into that.

I don't understand.

Agreed.

Great linked article. Clear and thorough in discussing the basics of the question along with its history and implications. I don't think I buy your "m...

Alas.

Yes, that brings us back to the question I considered in my response to BitterCrank previously: Which of these do we take into account? The ones you a...

Well, this was the question I was avoiding by stipulating at the beginning that there is no free will. I don't mind you bringing it up, but I would ra...

Good post. I was thinking of this when I started this discussion - I've read about jurisdictions where mitigating factors; e.g. childhood abuse, pover...

The law and any moral or ethical consideration at all.

I think you might treat someone who has no choice in what they do differently than one who does. Perhaps more kindly. If we got rid of punishment and ...

I agree.

I don't disagree. I do think that what I am trying to do in this discussion is just the kind of due diligence you are talking about.

This is a very small part of what constitutes holding someone accountable. It applies in all sorts of situations where there may be no specific rules ...

Yes. I guess what I want to examine is the contradiction between what a lack of free will implies and people's actions and behavior. Does anyone actua...

Which is sort of what I'm trying to get at. Hardly anyone has any real commitment to a "no free will" position. Not to the extent that it changes thei...

Perhaps what I'm looking for is a more personal statement from someone who believes there is not free will. An answer to the question - Do you hold ot...

Generally, you'll find that, although you think the definitions of terms such as these are obvious, other people will think they mean something differ...

Suggest you define your terms; describe the issue; and give your own thoughts.

@"ToothyMaw" If you're interested, you should take a look at @"Tom Storm"'s recent discussion - What is it to be Enlightened? https://thephilosophyfor...

I think that would be a good solution, although there may be threads that should be deleted. I would just like to end the confusion.

I am and never have been anywhere near an athlete, but I did play football and wrestled in high school. If you play sports, there is a phrase you will...

Thanks for your insight.

RE our discussion here yesterday about deleting threads - I would appreciate if moderators would take 20 seconds to put a post in the Shoutbox to noti...

Out of curiosity, and I'm not asking for names, are there any forum members who you think would make A students. I realize that the format we work in ...

It would be a big help if you defined your terms. I don't see why this is true. I don't need to see the other side of a wall in order to be stopped by...

I don't know if you've looked at the page I linked, but there are dozens of translations there. There are many more than that which aren't listed. Eve...

I should have said - use what you enjoy and what is meaningful to you. I did that for 20 years. If you find yourself wanting to dig deeper, you can do...

I started out with Mitchell's translation and I still like it a lot. As I got deeper into the Tao Te Ching I started looking at a bunch of different t...

I don't necessarily disagree. Mostly I just wanted to make a gratuitous, snarky, passive-aggressive comment. I also really do think it would make RG h...

Have you looked at @"Roger Gregoire"'s "Mosquito Analogy?" 1) It is very badly argued 2) It will make RG happy to be silenced by The Man.

It got deleted. See fdrakes response to my post in the Shoutbox.

Not complaining. Just curious.

@"fdrake" So, did the Russell's Set thread just get deleted? I tagged fdrake because it seems like the kind of thread he might axe. If it was so bad, ...

I thought this was a boring idea for a discussion, but I was wrong. Interesting. Welcome to the forum.