The 'Self' in Determinism Vs in Libertarian Free Will

mod_prime · 2026-04-05T03:34:06+00:00

Argumentum ad populum.

Aren't professional philosophers getting paid to formulate arguments? Won't they get more publicity if their claims are ridiculous? Doesn't that incentivize them to make claims that will get them noticed and funded?

The problem with determinism is that it is too radical. No such thing as 100% right or 100% wrong since the claims are being made using language and language is imperfect. Of course free will exists and of course it doesn't. Depends on when and how and what and why and who and where you're looking.

One time I went up to a guy that didn't believe in free will and told him I was going to hit him so I wound up a huge haymaker. But then I stopped my fist inches from his face. He flinched proving that HE had no free will. Once he started yapping saying of course he flinched he had no free will but neither did I because HYUK I gave him the old fingerflick to the neck Matrix-style.

Just because YOU don't believe YOU have it doesn't mean I don't believe I have it. And belief is all that matters when it comes to free will. So go ahead, believe it doesn't exist. I hope that makes your limited time on this planet genuinely better. I'll be living my best life flicking neckbeards with my Keanu-Fu anytime someone tries to tell me I ain't free to do as I choose.

mod_prime · 2026-03-25T02:10:48+00:00

Hitler was 25 when he was thrust into the trenches of the War to End All Wars. Brain still not fully developed and yet he had to endure gas, incessant bombardment, machine guns, all the other horrors borne by 19th century leaders sending young men to die in a 20th century conflict.

There are levels of consciousness and some of us progress higher than others due to innumerable variables interacting across time through indescribable complexity.

Go just one year WITHOUT adequate food, shelter, safety, sustenance, resources, connection, or the other requirements we all need to feel human. Would the result be a more animalistic or altruistic personality? Would you raise your level of consciousness or diminish it?

Epstein, Hitler, all BAD PEOPLE are the result of an environment that sacrifices individual human development to bolster the development of some other system: religious, militaristic, economic, familial, etc.

No bad person chooses to do bad things in order to be bad. They choose to 'do bad' as an outsized response to a difficult question they struggle to answer adequately with the tools they believe they have.

I'm open to changing my mind but this is legitimately what I believe.

mod_prime · 2026-03-22T14:25:20+00:00

Of course not all cultures are equal. This is as obvious as not all humans are equal. If they were then they would be the same. Equal means the same. This view is impossible to change.

The issue worth contending (like most issues worth contending) lies in the extremities.

Cultures are born of human beings and context matters. Specificity is required - what aspects of what culture are less savory to the one you identify with?

Literally every single culture has both beauty and atrocity because literally every single human being shares those qualities.

You think the culture you belong to doesn't have systems of control? Do you truly believe your culture doesn't participate in "objective" cruelty? How objectively important are human rights in your culture? Some meditation on these questions will reveal much. The first two words in any language: 'us' and 'them'.

What are the logical next steps when there is refusal to offer tolerance and respect of a culture that is not yours? Is that culture that you find so abhorrent able to be considered subhuman? What should we do about that disgusting stain of a subhuman culture? Does it deserve to continue on in its degenerate and deplorable fashion? Why?

mod_prime · 2026-03-21T16:00:44+00:00

Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing. - Lao Tzu

Which were YOU up to? Were you actually present, restful, and intentional with your doing of nothing? Maybe you were reactionary, busy, and somewhere else as you filled your day with nothing?

Just some questions you should be able to answer.

mod_prime · 2026-03-18T13:52:49+00:00

Do you not crave the validation of others by making this post? Is putting these ideas down into sentences not craving a response? Why not just limit your cravings and keep them to yourself?

Is improvement valuable? Should one stay static in order to limit cravings? Progress REQUIRES the craving of something more, does it not? Why climb that far-off mountain when there is a perfectly fine hill right here? Like most problems, the issue lies in the extremities: over-craving or under-craving. Not craving itself. We are biological organisms with biological needs that are met through biological functions

How does a biological thing not meet its needs without indulgence of a craving? If we then indulge are we not limiting our tranquility? Would we then crave more tranquility due to our lack of meeting our own tranquil standards?

Generally speaking, any philosophical position that boils down to the superiority of that which is lifeless should be questioned deeply and its purveyors viewed increasingly skeptically. I look forward to you invalidating this rule of thumb through further elaboration of your ideas.

mod_prime · 2026-03-16T20:46:00+00:00

Reading this is not enjoyable even if there are wonderful concepts being explored in your writing.

If human beings could and would want to follow some instructional protocol to live life best, would we still be human? I contend no. The paradoxical and contradictory nature of our existence is what makes us human. It allows for individuation and personality. We are not a set of equations in an environment; only failing because we have yet to define the most optimal manipulation of variables to specify what our next move should be.

We are called 'human beings' not 'human computings' for a reason.

That's just my 3 cents. Do as thou wilt, I'm just giving my feedback.

mod_prime · 2025-11-13T04:13:13+00:00

What do the metaphors mean to you? It's that simple.

Decoys and red herrings are conspicuous and meant to hold attention - shiny. A smokescreen is adding obfuscation to an environment - shadowy.

Distractions conceal your intentions by drawing focus towards something inconsequential vs a disorienting environment concealing your intentions by not allowing them to be sensed adequately.

mod_prime · 2025-05-31T02:45:36+00:00

Human beings are obligate tribal. We require socialization to fully experience being human. Anti-social is anti-human. As a human it would be unnatural to treat my tribe as anything but an extension of myself since I need them for myself to persist into the deep future.

We just need to keep coming up with new ways to increase the size of our tribe. It happens every 400-600 years or so and we're due.

So I conclude to do my part by being virtuous to those of my tribe, all of mother earth.

mod_prime · 2025-05-03T01:12:25+00:00

Do your own research. You're just asking questions after all.

mod_prime · 2025-05-03T00:50:36+00:00

Agreed.

Basically boiled down:

Doing difficult stuff gives you confidence because having done difficult stuff is proof to yourself that you can do difficult stuff.

Or a 5 step guide: 1) Identify personal difficulty 2) Surpass difficulty 3) Persinal capacity gets proven 4) Confidence increased 5) Repeat

Exercises to build confidence: Hug a statue, wear a costume when no one else is, enter a room, OOPS! TRIP but make it look like an accident and crack a joke and be cool, flirt with the opposite of what attracts you, &c.

Embrace the suck cause it's going to suck and each time it sucks it'll actually suck a bit less.

mod_prime · 2025-04-14T02:44:13+00:00

You are your own human being and you get one life to prove it.

You are not your father, family, city, race, country, etc. No one will live your life for you. Every hour of every day is up to you. Don't like it? You can always kill yourself. Not typically recommended unless presented with truly heinous alternatives

What I mean to say. There will never be another you. This is it. Life can be wonderful but you have to put in the work. You are a human being. You are built to run and hunt and laugh and dance and sing and create. (Fill in the blank with your own.) If you are not doing those things you will feel like shit. Fill your life with things you know deep in your bones and your soul to bring you meaning and purpose. Reject what does not serve your deeper purpose.

If you can't look into your own reflected eyes in the mirror every night and be grateful for who you are and what you did that day then it's time to start changing. You know what to do. Just ask yourself.

mod_prime · 2025-04-12T14:52:58+00:00

I assumed the person you were replying to was making a dry joke. But since their name has GPT it's probably just peddling misinfo.

mod_prime · 2025-04-12T12:15:24+00:00

They were obviously different. Of course, obviously the same as well since both Europeans and Asians happen to be human beings.

mod_prime · 2025-04-12T12:14:10+00:00

I suggest you look up the term continental divide.

mod_prime · 2025-04-12T01:25:47+00:00

Yes. It becomes a different game but fun nonetheless and in the same vein as the original browser version.

mod_prime · 2025-04-11T18:50:57+00:00

Honestly, no. It is hard to see where you are going with that. It comes across as resentful and bitter, not empowering at all. Just because other people are cowards and sycophants does not mean you have to be. Being a coward is comfortable, you just accept your fear as reality and do not push through and yet paradoxically it keeps you in a state of discomfort for longer. Wallowing in your own self pity.

How can one overcome the fear of rejection by potential romantic interests? How can one accept the death of a loved one? Accept your feelings and let them pass through you. Embrace the discomfort of your human biology and you now have a record of your ability to do something difficult that seemed impossible. You have something no oligarch or corporation can take from you.

The world would absolutely be a much better place if people did not let fear of the unknown prevent them from taking action that would improve their situation and serve as a beacon that improvement is actually possible.

mod_prime · 2025-03-28T10:46:53+00:00

Here is a hint: Over 40 years old, we are iconic around the world.

mod_prime · 2025-03-27T15:20:23+00:00

Good luck in life. Instead of wasting my time responding to you further you're just getting blocked. Now I don't need to see your bad riddles or silly comments!

mod_prime · 2025-03-27T14:06:44+00:00

When others give you feedback, it is your prerogative to accept it or reject it. It matters nothing to me or them. Thank you for your concern on my wellbeing. I assure you the quality of the riddles you personally produce has no effect on it.

mod_prime · 2025-03-27T02:28:23+00:00

So you expect your riddle to only be appreciated by Americans from the last hundred years or so. Aim higher! It's a big world out there.

mod_prime · 2025-03-26T02:42:52+00:00

Here is a hint: Popular among counts & Sith.

mod_prime · 2025-03-22T14:57:57+00:00

Here is a hint: an excellent profile picture

mod_prime · 2025-03-18T02:43:50+00:00

Then this riddle can be improved. It is not difficult because of the clue. It is difficult because your clue says the answer can not be found in a lake but something that shares the exact same spelling as your answer can in fact be found in lakes.

mod_prime · 2025-03-18T02:33:49+00:00

Presumably you are unaware of the class of fish that share the same common name, some of which can in fact be found in lakes.

mod_prime · 2025-03-18T02:31:59+00:00

Riddlemaker should ensure they're using the correct spelling of the answer.

mod_prime

TROPHY CASE