Skepdick wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 2:24 pm
RCSaunders wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:49 pm
No! For human beings every act must be chosen. To not choose is to not act. To not act is to die. Life is not something that happens to you, life is something you do. Things happen to a rock.
Why the special pleading? Rocks DO things. This rock we call "The Moon" causes high and low tides without which life on Earth probably wouldn't exist.
Also. Why only humans? Animals seem to be living just fine. Surely they make choices also?
If you believe what a rock, "does," is the same as the behavior of a living organism and that there is no difference between an animal's behavior and human chosen behavior, I have to take your word for it.
Skepdick wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 2:24 pm
RCSaunders wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:49 pm
No principles are
mine. Gravity is not something I made up, it applies to everything. No one has to observe it, and it's not up to me to tell others not to jump off cliffs or tall buildings, but no one can defy gravity and get away with it.
Airplanes define (sic) gravity gravity all the time - predominantly without consequences. Do you understand how rockets work? They defy gravity too.
Really? You mean there is no need for any force to counter the force of gravity? Who knew?
Skepdick wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 2:24 pm
RCSaunders wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:49 pm
Most human beings defy most of the principles of reality which is why there is so much misery and suffering in the world.
Oh, you think us defying reality's principles is what causes suffering? Maybe we should tell doctors/scientists/engineers to stop defying reality.
Perhaps you would much prefer living in the days of Moses?
Yes, that would be a good idea, and tell them to stop believing in God, too. When doctors are successful it's because what they do does conform to reality, not the superstitious nonsense you are apparently promoting.
Skepdick wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 2:24 pm
RCSaunders wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:49 pm
Death, at the extreme, or a life so mismanaged as to make it impossible to enjoy or worth living.
Well, you have to make up your mind. The average life expectancy of humans who didn't defy reality was about 35.
You think before scientists discovered the real causes of diseases and men discovered the principles of reality that made the production of the food, goods, and medicine of the present age was better? Keep you superstitious beliefs if you like. Rejecting the knowledge of science and technology is defiance of reality.
Skepdick wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 2:24 pm
RCSaunders wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:49 pm
I don't care if you want to squander your life. Live any way you want. I don't make the laws of nature.
Yeah but you clearly obey them. I don't.
I prefer defying nature than complying with it.
Well, good luck with that, but I don't believe you. If you have a headache and have to choose between aspirin and abrin to eliminate it, even though they both will work, I suspect you'll choose aspirin, just because if you choose abrin, it will kill you. Why wouldn't you defy nature, in that case?
Skepdick wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 2:24 pm
RCSaunders wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:49 pm
I doubt it very much. I'm interested in knowing the truth so I can order my life to conform to the requirements of reality. I do not detect any such interest on your part.
Reality requires you to die. Sooner rather than later.
Knowing reality and how to deal with it makes it possible to live. It's being ignorant or reality and believing you can defy it that kills you.
Skepdick wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 2:24 pm
I object to reality's requirements.
Well life and reality are tough and ruthless, but, as John Wayne said, "it's tougher if your stupid."
Skepdick wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 2:24 pm
RCSaunders wrote: ↑Thu Jun 11, 2020 1:49 pm
I have, in great detail, although I'm not sure why. Why don't you tell me what YOUR nature is, and I'll explain mine by comparing the differences.
I don't have a nature - or at least, I have NO idea what my nature is.
What I DO is I invent myself and I engineer my surroundings to maximise my the expectancy and improve the quality of life of me and other humans as I see fit.
You don't think there is any difference between you and a rock, tree, fish, or dog? None of those things, "invent," themselves, or engineer anything, but you can and do. No other creature is concerned with the, "quality of life," of themselves or anything else, and none of them will be posting here to explain why. By, "nature," I only mean whatever it is that you are that is not what any other organism or thing is, and what those differences are. There is nothing mystical or mysterious about, "nature." Nature is just what is the way it is.
I have a lot of sympathy with the view of, "inventing," oneself, except I would say, one must make of oneself whatever kind of individual one chooses to be.