Sunday 25 May 2008

a simple question....

Are we really free?

15 comments:

johar said...

Roshni,

Define free?

Karl Le Marcs said...

Roshni: We are certainly free enough to all make subjectively different interpretations to your FAR from simple question!

I, for one, am free to wonder what the purpose of posting that was!!!!

Define “free”, define “we” and define “really”.
I think “are” can be stand, unless the argument enters subjective consciousness in which case the plural becomes the singular and even “are” needs re-defining.

In the context that I think you meant the question then, YES.

*mild grumble*

SM Kovalinsky said...

Schopenhauer answers this question with a lengthy and elegant version of "NO". Being myself a soft determinist, I would say yes to a degree, no to an even greater degree.

Jesamyn said...

The question looked interesting!!! Karl said it best, but a few books I have read point out that where we are at now in Life is the result of the many thousand small or large decisions we have made until now.And therefore, Itladianly, the decisions we make henceforth will affect us evermore... You could turn right now to the person next to you and hit them over the head with a saucepan and that decision would change your life for some months!!!You are "free" to do so!!! But it is also the beginning of more discussion along the "What is Reality?"route which always brings with it myriad mind twisting ideas.. well all that meant not a lot but I just wanted to answer anyway!!
Jesamyn.

Anonymous said...

Paradoxically you are always free until your self-consciousness (or ego) gets involved in the so-called decision-making process. Instinct is your freedom, or so my cat tells me.

rac said...

It would appear not.

Rosh said...

hey! all thanx!...was just wondering about freedom....how our souls/spirits are free....etc...
KARL,JOHAR:i dont know if i can define free....but i think it would be, to be able to think and act without any compromises?

SM Kovalinsky said...

Freedom would be groundless acts; those arising without precedent or antecedent : This is why Schopenhauer and Nietzsche scorned certain definitions of freedom, although they did endorse creative freedom.

Karl Le Marcs said...

...........and anyway, I'm not free
I'm rather expensive!
*swooshes Gucci scarf over shoulder*

SM Kovalinsky said...

That's Provincetown behavior.

Karl Le Marcs said...

*knowing smile to Susan Marie*

Jesamyn said...

Susan Marie...*wink*!!
Hey Karl... you didn't pick up on my saucepan comment... careful in your kitchen today!!!!
*Tries for self flouncing off in High Dudgeon*
Jesamyn.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Jesamyn: Didn't I???
I've been invoking Pan all day!
*my Occultic stand-up comedy audience is even smaller than my Quantum Mechanics gig*

SM Kovalinsky said...

You have audiences in scope and number of which you remain unaware, and more lookers at your beck, that it were almost better your mother had not borne you. . .

Karl Le Marcs said...

I think she often thinks that !!!
*smile*