I dunno, man, looks like an insult to me.

I never wrote that. Where did you get that from?

It was a joke

Not funny. And not responsive. You accused me of throwing insults. So back it up, or withdraw the accusation. I also want to report FA's next to last post. How do I do that? There is no language barrier. There is ignorance and stupidity.

n.1. a. The act of compelling.
b. The state of being compelled.

2. a. An irresistible impulse to act, regardless of the rationality of the motivation: "The compulsion to protect the powerful from the discomfort of public disclosure feeds further abuse and neglect" (Boston Globe).
b. An act or acts performed in response to such an impulse.

As Locke pointed out, "it is not the will that is free, it is the person". A person acts freely if he can do what he wants to do. If you is not compelled to do what he does not want to do. That fact that what he wants to do is caused is irrelevant unless the cause of of a particular kind. For example, if his want is the result of an addiction, or of hypnosis. The mere fact that it is caused is no reason to think that it is somehow compelled. For instance, if I want to go to a restaurant, and the cause of that is the suggestion of a friend, my I was not compelled to want to go, and, therefore, my going to the restaurant was of my own free will. To say I did something of my own free will is simply to deny that I was forced to do that thing.

I don't know ordinary people (not philosophers) who would say that we act freely when we are not determined to do what we do, if only because "determined" in that sense is a philosophical term of art, and most people are not philosophers. Just to repeat; I am not using "free will" just to mean,"will" (as you write I am) since I might want to do something, and if that want is caused in a particular way (say it is an addiction) then I am not acting of my own free will. Therefore, you must be mistaken.

Even though I think that even humor can have its place in philosophical discourse, we should always remain vigilant to take philosophy seriously.

Not funny. And not responsive. You accused me of throwing insults. So back it up, or withdraw the accusation. I also want to report FA's next to last post. How do I do that? There is no language barrier. There is ignorance and stupidity.

And it is always best to let people think you are a fool rather than to speak and convince them that you are.

Even though I think that even humor can have its place in philosophical discourse, we should always remain vigilant to take philosophy seriously.

Your analogy between "hard" and "soft" determinism, and "soft" and "hard" cheese, is proof that you do have any idea what "soft" and "hard" determinism mean, and therefore your views on them are worthless. Soft and hard determinism are not different kinds of determinism like soft and hard cheese. They are different ways in which determinism relates to free will. Why don't you just try to learn what those technical terms do mean, and stop saying silly things? The analogy is just ignorant.

Who was this directed towards?



.

And cut out the belligerence.

How do I report FA's post?

See, ACB is interpreting a brash tone also perhaps.



There is a report button at the top of every post. It should be a red-outlined warning sign, with an exclamation point.

I have no idea why ACB writes that. Unless he thinks that all criticism is belligerence.

I'm no expert so please keep that in mind. I also did not read the entire thread so also keep that in mind.

But following along a bit I want to clarify this post. Is your argument for determinism that we are being compelled on an subconscious level to do things?

It goes further, but it is also that.

As a part of Reality our wants and needs reflect our relation with it. Sometimes partially conscientiously, sometimes at a total unconscious level...
In order to decide freely we would have to be equidistant from all this influences and fully aware of all of them...

Best Regards>FILIPE DE ALBUQUERQUE

who(m) was this directed towards? at no one in particular. It is a matter of the shoe fitting, and the person wearing it. How do i report fa's post?

I don't know what you mean by a "brash tone", but you did not say that, anyway. You said "insult". Therefore, you don't have to withdraw the accusation of a brash tone. But you should withdraw the accusation of insult if it is false.

there is a difference between wants and needs. more to come...maybe lol

I'm no expert so please keep that in mind. I also did not read the entire thread so keep that in mind too.

But following along a bit I want to clarify this post. Is your argument for determinism that we are being compelled on an subconscious level to do things?

I have no idea how you have no idea why ACB, or anyone, would write that concerning your recent postings. Perhaps you did not intend to come off harsh, but you did. You can criticize without appearing aggressive, you know. But maybe you are just not able to see what we see, or at least what I see. And, I guess, then, it would not be your fault.