Theos-Talk Archives (January 1997 Message tl00245)

Tom Robertson writes:
>On Wed, 8 Jan 97, John Straughn <JTarn@envirolink.org> wrote:
>
>>You say that free will has nothing to do with evolution.  
>
>I didn't mean to.  In that certain ways of evolving are seen as the best
>alternative, they are chosen.
>
>
>>But don't we, as individual monads ourselves, have the power to control 
>>our own evolution?  
>The problem I have with free will is that it is impossible to choose an
>alternative which is regarded as anything but the best alternative, and I
>don't see how perception of the value of alternatives is subject to free
>will.  

I can agree with you only if you using "best" as a relative term.  What *I* 
think is best is not necessarily what you think is best.  I suppose that free 
will goes hand in hand with relativity which goes hand in hand with 
individuality.  Trying to put myself into your shoes, if you believe that 
there is no permanent you, no permanent individuality, then free will would 
seem to be a senseless proposition.

I'd like to understand your point of view much more clearly, for there are a 
lot of fine points that need to be understood if we can further continue our 
conversations.  I've noticed on several occasions that we have agreed with 
each other on many things without realizing it simply because we use 
different, ambiguous terms.

I guess a good place to start would be to ask:

What do you believe makes up *you* as an individual?

What do you believe "makes you tick" which is eternal and "real"?

What do you believe will happen to both the individual "parts" and the real 
"parts" after your physical death?
---
The Triaist