|
|
Temptations
by Monolycus on Dec 23, 2002 - 12:18 AM
(User info | Send a Message)
|
It really wasn't my impression that Squid was indicting the concept of free will, per se. He stated that "(t)he fruit of free will..." had resulted in a global level of badness, but I did not see where he clamoured for its abolition. The ability to do bad (as well as good) is often taken as a mandate to do bad, which is the prerogative of the individual but is no less heartbreaking when it happens. Further, as long as we are fleshing out the finer points of this argument in a real-world context (as opposed to strictly hypothetical situations), social constructs forbid the unconstrained exercise of free will far more explicitly than any religious taboo does or we would not punish people who exercised their prerogative to commit crimes. It is not merely the would-be messiahs who objectify and constrain the masses but the tacit social contract that we all enter into.
As fashionable as it might be to argue that "everything is permitted", I somehow doubt that it would be quite so appealing when it is the Devil's advocate's own life that has become "...nasty, brutish and short" as a result of someone else's experiments with free will. I am aware that you had in mind experimentation along the lines of cross-dressing, playing with bags of rice, or other harmless pursuits... but the argument you make could also be applied to theft, rape, homocide or other undesirable behaviours. Who am I to take away a person's free will if it makes them happy to poison the water table, slaughter a family, drive dangerously? I see where you are coming from, callei, but it is a slippery slope that you are walking upon here.
Incidentally, while I am no scholar or authority on Christianity (nor any sect that embraces the god of Abraham), this discussion has (predictably) centered around what has become known by Biblical scholars as the Last and Greatest Temptation of Christ. The temptation in question was simply: knowing that people left to their own devices will make a mess of their lives and the planet, thus dooming both the righteous and unrighteous alike, wouldn't it be better to simply take away their choice to make bad decisions? According to legend Christ took your view, callei, that it is better to leave it to humankind to make that decision for themselves even though it will mean their inevitable
destruction. I, too, take the position that a person's opportunity to learn and grow from their mistakes as well as their successes is the only way to keep them from becoming emotionally and intellectually arrested... but the issue is not quite as black and white as you have presented it. More often than not, where someone's free will takes them is the antithesis of "beautiful" as you described, and more people than not will be negatively impacted by people chasing their bliss... but the messianic perspective is that the alternative is the more horrible. Having a world filled with harmful, criminal people is preferable to having a world of dependent, emotional children who have been denied the opportunity to grow and learn. I often think of this "Last Temptation" argument when I hear people talking about how we should sacrifice our liberties for security... but that is the same debate with a different face on it. I am
your faithful friend,
~Monolycus.
|
Re: Messianic Existentialism
by IamSquid (undisclosedgettheaddressfrommeepersonally)
on Dec 23, 2002 - 04:21 AM
(User info | Send a Message)
http://
|
WHOA! A bit angry there are we?
Okay, yoo seem to misurderstand. The first misunderstanding yoo should have picked-up on had yoo read my comments: I am not out to destroy Free Will. Free Will is a very beautiful thing because through it, learning is possible.
The second misuderstanding is that I am not a puritan. Cross-dressers, drug-addicts, homosexuals, anyone who's had an abortion, and anyone else Xian Fundies rant endlessly about who are just minding their own buissness are fine in my book. Individuality is to be cherished.
I should probably also add that not only am I not Xian, but my definition of the word "Messiah," although it does allude to Judeo/Xian concepts, is not in any way religious.
Finally, yoo insinuate my stupidity. Stupidity is a question of behavior, not of mental efficency. It was stupid for mee to break the law of Harpocrates in writing this article, however it has taught mee something so I regret no part of it.
If yoo are to accuse mee of stupidity for that reason, fine. For any other reason regarding this article, I must remind yoo of who's the person getting upset about hearing someone say "Wouldn't it be great if everybody was nice to one another."
|
|
|