In the first chapter of Friedrich Nietzsches Beyond Good and Evil, we read, Granted we want truth: why not rather untruth? And uncertainty? Even ignorance? If determinism were true, then nothing would really matter because it could never be different. All that happens, including our thoughts and actions, are unavoidable. In such a case, the truth wouldnt matter either. Freedom of the will is a necessary condition for anything to ultimately meaningful, so the libertarian is justified in disregarding determinism. (If hes wrong, so what? He was determined to be wrong; he couldnt help it.) Craig isnt saying people should give up, hes just pointing out the futility of accepting a position that entails that all is futile. If determinism is true, then Everythings already futile in the sense I cant really change anything (Inmendham, 2:15, youtu.be/-R0BD9kQqbQ). Furthermore, and this is very interesting: given determinism, whether now is now or not is of no real significance. As Inmendham says, “The future might as well be now” (11:56, youtu.be/w04GF3-26lY). The whole story is already written. If we have free will, then the present moments being now is significant, because only now can we change. All we can taste is this moment, to take a lyric from Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls (youtu.be/NdYWuo9OFAw). Otherwise, all is futile...including determinism. Again, assuming determinism, whether now is now or not is really of no value. According to traditional atheism, one dies and that is the end of sentient experience. Sentience entails value, and the antithesis of that is also true. No sentience, no value. In the future, I do not exist (on atheism), so I am of no value. If the future might as well be the present, If all is purely deterministic, I might as well be of no value. My being is insignificant, and ultimately meaningless. Now Inmendham says in his video, “It might as well already be done with” (12:06, youtu.be/w04GF3-26lY). That is very telling because the end of ones existence (on atheism) is a state of no sentience, which entails a state of valuelessness (nihilism). Nihilism means that nothing matters. If we might as well be in a state of valuelessness right now, then absolutely nothing matters, including the whole philosophy of atheism/determinism. Oops. From pg. 27 of Father Seraphims book Nihilism: If death is, as the Liberal and Nihilist both believe, the extinction of the individual, then this world and everything in it--love, goodness, sanctity, everything--are as nothing, nothing man may do is of any ultimate consequence, and the full horror of life is hidden from man only be the strenth of their will to deceive themselves; and all things are lawful, no otherworldy hope or fear restrains men from monstrous experiments and suicidal dreams. Lets just grant that there is no proof either way for determinism or libertarianism. Most of us feel like we are free to make our own choices. As Inmendham says, The process of decision has no appearance of inevitability (27:01, youtu.be/-R0BD9kQqbQ). In City of Angels, there is a scene in which Seth tells Maggie that she is an excellent doctor (youtu.be/ucSZT4QqcII). When asked how he knows that, he replies that he has a feeling. She says that such evidence is flimsy, to which Seth does a little demonstration. She closes her eyes upon request, and then Seth touches her hand with his index finger. When asked how she knows that he is touching her, she answers, Because I feel it, to which Seth responds, You should trust that. Given that we have the feeling of free will, and that we know that determinism is futile, in the absence of any good reason to dismiss that feeling as a delusion, I submit that we should believe in free will. I just want you to know who I am. -Goo Goo Dolls, Iris I am who I am. -God, Exodus 3:14 That is a nice, simple way of putting it, and its straight from the Holy Bible: God is Being Itself. The eternal disembodied mind creates other disembodied minds (angels), some of whom accept Him. Then the eternal disembodied mind creates embodied minds (humans), who unfortunately brought darkness into the world. One person of the eternal mind became embodied to reconcile us to Him. His name is Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. His Bride is the Roman Catholic Church.
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 23:30:44 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015