You'd like to think that they do- or rather that you do have the freedom to make your choices, but not when the options are forced upon you like in so many instances and spheres of modern life- be it political, social, religious and what not else... In modernity freedom is merely an illusion, or rather a delusion, hence my defense of scepticism...
I don't aggree that options are enforced upon us. In fact, at any moment, we do have infinite number of options (that we can or cannot think of). The reason that we think that there are only a limited number of options is due to the limitation in our perception, our background and everything else that makes us. But, ironically, you're still free to choose, what you want to do, as long as you accept to face the consequences. However, it is not really a choice because "given all the parameters that could effect any decision, the direction that will be chosen can be determined". But are we really capable of determining those parameters. That's why I think it is a illusion...
i just read this whole comment thread though, first you question whether choice really exists and then contradict yourself by saying that you always have options? does not make sense, really... sorry
:)I hope I'd make more sense with this question. Does it really matter how many options you have if the one that you'd choose can be determined when all the parameters included? Anyway, I remember discussing this with you before; you know that I believe in a predetermined world but I also believe in we cannot determine that predetermined way that I'm talking about. That's why i'm calling that an illusion; -we like to think that we're in control on making decisions.
I like to put more comments on this topic :)... Let me give you an example of the infinite options that we may have. Let's say you come accross a road that forks into two, which one you would choose? You may think that there are only two options. In fact, you can still choose to go off the road in any direction. But our mind tells us that that's not logical and hence we don't like to face the consequences. That's how we discretisize the options into only two. But that's us doing that elimination, not the people that build those roads...
i remember mentioning to you once that when forced to chose between two options i usually end up chosing neither, but something else instead... this is the whole point that the ancient sceptics tried to show... this is the point that i've come to accept as the only alternative, for no matter what you chose and which path you take, there will always be a point in the future when looking back you will regret your choice and wish you had taken the other path... Wonders of human nature...
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Choice? Does it really exist? :)
You'd like to think that they do- or rather that you do have the freedom to make your choices, but not when the options are forced upon you like in so many instances and spheres of modern life- be it political, social, religious and what not else... In modernity freedom is merely an illusion, or rather a delusion, hence my defense of scepticism...
I don't aggree that options are enforced upon us. In fact, at any moment, we do have infinite number of options (that we can or cannot think of). The reason that we think that there are only a limited number of options is due to the limitation in our perception, our background and everything else that makes us. But, ironically, you're still free to choose, what you want to do, as long as you accept to face the consequences. However, it is not really a choice because "given all the parameters that could effect any decision, the direction that will be chosen can be determined". But are we really capable of determining those parameters. That's why I think it is a illusion...
There are times when having options, choices and freedom are merely illusions. You've lived in the states long enough to know this.
i just read this whole comment thread though, first you question whether choice really exists and then contradict yourself by saying that you always have options? does not make sense, really... sorry
:)I hope I'd make more sense with this question. Does it really matter how many options you have if the one that you'd choose can be determined when all the parameters included? Anyway, I remember discussing this with you before; you know that I believe in a predetermined world but I also believe in we cannot determine that predetermined way that I'm talking about. That's why i'm calling that an illusion; -we like to think that we're in control on making decisions.
I like to put more comments on this topic :)... Let me give you an example of the infinite options that we may have. Let's say you come accross a road that forks into two, which one you would choose? You may think that there are only two options. In fact, you can still choose to go off the road in any direction. But our mind tells us that that's not logical and hence we don't like to face the consequences. That's how we discretisize the options into only two. But that's us doing that elimination, not the people that build those roads...
Robert Frost, untrodden path...
i remember mentioning to you once that when forced to chose between two options i usually end up chosing neither, but something else instead...
this is the whole point that the ancient sceptics tried to show... this is the point that i've come to accept as the only alternative, for no matter what you chose and which path you take, there will always be a point in the future when looking back you will regret your choice and wish you had taken the other path...
Wonders of human nature...
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