Walker wrote:
Well howdy.
How do, Ranger Walker.
Funny thing, I almost died this past week and I'm still pondering what forces took over to spare me for awhile longer.
Wow.
Well, I guess on a Determinist account, you were bound not to die. But it sounds to me like you wonder if there wasn't more to it.
Just at this moment of the world I observe the array of possibilities which include counting angels on the head of a pin or, traveling to the beach resort where I don a silk Hawaiian shirt to nurse the always-fresh Margarettas, where I shall nurture the family which creates glowing memories to which I will likely turn in my dotage, and where I disconnect from the web to bask in the beauty of the scenery which includes the living art all around me; thus in this observation I realize that once again there really is no choice. Ever. The path is clear and there is no doubt which I suspect is why I write now, call it what you must.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could be guaranteed to get what we visualize. But will we only get it if we take action (free will), or has it been programmed into the natural order of things since the Big Bang or before (Determinism). Either way, we never quite know. And that's the human dilemma -- if it is to be, is it up to me? Or will Fate do it all?
It reminds me of Macbeth, in his contemplating killing the king of Scotland to pinch his crown:
"If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me
Without my stir."
But the problem is that he doesn't know if chance, all by itself, will do that. It might; but what if part of "chance" is that he must act? So he goes ahead and kills the king himself, thus precipitating his own downfall. But had he not, what would have happened? Again, he will never know. And Shakespeare reminds us that we never know the "what if" either.