Is the Universe friendly or not?

[LuciferSam]

Food for Thought in the Great Vortex. ;-)
I believe we are energy and fall into laws of physics; however, I also believe that we as humans can formulate thought processes, which allow us to understand and ponder physics, thus allowing us our own choices. Other beings don't have that capability. Do other beings have free will or are they pure in their physics?
I take responsibility for my decisions......dangitall, maybe it all IS just an illusion.

That's right. Is it really a choice that you, I or anyone takes responsibility, or is that just some innate feature of your brain physics? In any event I think society needs to hold people accountable for their actions whether those actions are choices or not. People are even held accountable for accidents, and I think that's fair.

 

[LuciferSam]

Now that I think about it, we all die. If the universe is responsible for that and consciously aware I say with friends like that who needs enemies.;-)

 

[Lynnie]

That's right. Is it really a choice that you, I or anyone takes responsibility, or is that just some innate feature of your brain physics? In any event I think society needs to hold people accountable for their actions whether those actions are choices or not. People are even held accountable for accidents, and I think that's fair.

Hmmm, I don't know. If it's an innate feature of our brain physics, then are we all wired the same? There are those with no conscience, or seemingly so. Where would they fit into the category that free will doesn't exist?

I've always found it interesting that science is root to conscience.

 

[Lynnie]

Miss Critter, I just checked out of couple of his books and will pick them up this week. Thanks for sharing this!

Cheers~~~~~~~~~

 

[LuciferSam]

Hmmm, I don't know. If it's an innate feature of our brain physics, then are we all wired the same? There are those with no conscience, or seemingly so. Where would they fit into the category that free will doesn't exist?

I've always found it interesting that science is root to conscience.

No, I'm saying it may be an innate feature for those who "choose" to take responsibility. There are others who don't appear to do so, so I don't think we are all wired the same. We have people like sociopaths, schizophrenics. Some of them appear to have no control over their actions. But then I wonder, is it really any different for well-adjusted people who engage in acts of kindness. At some root level is there really a "self" that makes those choices?

 

[Bob]

we revert to our genetics in the long run. it is an illusion of choice.

 

[Miss Critter]

Wow, y'all are way above me on the consciousness scale. My premise was: let's pretend everything's groovy for 3 weeks and see what happens. But I like where you've taken it.

 

[LuciferSam]

Wow, y'all are way above me on the consciousness scale. My premise was: let's pretend everything's groovy for 3 weeks and see what happens. But I like where you've taken it.

I had no choice.;-) Goodwitch's post reminded me of a scene from one of my favorite movies. A random dice toss. Never would have thought of it otherwise.

 

[Lake View Too]

This thread reminds me of "The Whole Earth Catalog". A lot of you probably don't even remember it. It was trying to do what the internet is doing before there ever was an internet. It advertised itself as an "access to tools"(physical, metaphysical, intellectual... you name it) Anyway, their motto was "We are as Gods, so we might as well get good at it." That about sums it up. We have the potential to be the seed of something overwhelmingly great and significant. This era (the last couple centuries) could be barely the beginning...

 

[Eileen West]

As an existentialist, I have to create the world I want everyday. if there is hope, it is up to me to create it. If there is kindness, up to me to show it, compassion, up to me to live that way. I can't wait for the debate to be decided about whether these virtues are physical reflexes, gifts from an unseen God, or whatev. Can't be paralized by fear of an unfriendly universe or provoked to action by the threat of divine punishment. Just got to get on with living a life filled with all the goodness I can make happen. The if it turns out there's a big daddy god waiting to hold me accountable for not believing, I'll paraphrase Mark Twain and say, "I made an honest mistake." because you sure can't make a case for a loving universe based on the evidence.