Philosophy Now Forum

this sounds a lot like randomly caused determinism to me. because if this determinism is not predetermined (intentionally, or unintentionally), then it's randomly caused. We seem to be going around in circles here but this is one point I thought we were in agreement on. If by random you mean uncaus...

you're a man of a few words... when it suits you. explain the false dichotomy to me. ... You're conflating determinism with pre-determinism. Do you seriously reckon that it was written into the "laws of nature" at the time of the big bang that you would write that last comment? A self-det...

and was i caused to make that choice, or did i make that choice randomly? at some point you're gonna have to accept that our choices aren't truly ours, unless you think we somehow had an actual choice in our own conception and birth and so on. This is a false dichotomy and thus a straw man. you're ...

Wrong wrong wrong. All our choices are by definition wholly ours. We are caused by a range of factors from genes, environment, social programming ad infinitem. But your problem is you idea of 'self', 'we', 'us', 'ours'. What we are is what we have been determined to be. ANd the self is a caused and...

1. how can a living entity not be determined by its initial genetic make-up? It can learn to do otherwise and react to contingent situation presented by its political, social and natural environment. Actions that no genetics could possibly predict. Learning changes the structure of the brain, witho...

if i choose to drink/not drink water when i'm thirsty, was my "choice" caused (determined), or uncaused (random)? Your choice was caused. By you. and was i caused to make that choice, or did i make that choice randomly? at some point you're gonna have to accept that our choices aren't tru...

anything that prevents an infinite regress of causes. did everyone happen to notice how leo conveniently avoids the questions that he can't answer? I haven't avoided anything, alpha, but you're just not listening to my responses. The first law of thermodynamics is not only a fundamental law of natu...

Tell me what you think of the essay I linked to, alpha. i have it open in a tab. the article looks interesting, but a bit lengthy, so it'll take time to read the whole thing, but i'll let you know after i'm done. i like people with high capacity minds (this bohm fella seems to be one) who provide p...

There isn't a scientist in the world who claims that the universe came into existence from nothing. Even Larry Krauss is not actually claiming this, although his agent obviously decided it was a good title for a book. Exactly, but don't don't blame his publisher. He's given lectures he himself call...

the distinction is that existence is what existed before the big bang 13.8 billion years ago Who cares what we choose to call it? you were supposed to be explaining what you meant by "first cause". anything that prevents an infinite regress of causes. did everyone happen to notice how leo...

The Inglorious One wrote:

alpha wrote:i have no idea what the hell you're talking about!

No one has any idea what the hell Leo is talking about--ever. Not even Leo.

roflmao.

The Inglorious One wrote:Leo is a proponent of "Leo-ism," which is neither a philosophy nor a science, but rather a kind of self-worship.

finally, an ally.

i'd use the word 'existence' instead of 'universe', Please explain the distinction between these two terms. If you claim that there is valid notion of "existence" which applies external to the universe then you are not doing philosophy and should be taking your thoughts off to a theology ...

Are you for real? Are you seriously suggesting that a universe with a beginning makes sense and one without a beginning doesn't? How the fuck does the beginning begin? i'd use the word 'existence' instead of 'universe', and i'd say that i'm as yet undecided as to whether either (an existence with o...

the problem is that you're implying that "executive function" itself is causeless, No I'm not. I'm saying that the concept of executive function defines the self as both actor and acted upon. In the Santiago model of embodied cognition this notion is formulated through the notion of causa...