Freewill -v- Destiny

[Silke]

All nurture and no nature?

Antigone would most certainly agree with you on this one. I believe she would say that it was in her nature to carry out her actions because of pre-determination.

If you have not read Monsieur Anouilh's book it may be worth a look in-Antigone seems to be anything but passive! She has to fight every step of the way to do what she understands is her duty.

Apologies for headache!

Oh boy, I actually read that book in school and successfully wiped it out of my memory - I hated it at the time! But that goes for a lot of literature we had to struggle through. I might give it another try.

So, if I understand you correctly you're saying that predetermination (as Antigone sees it) only sets some sort of goal or mission in your life? Like a life long search or task you have to fulfill? And how would you know what it is then? Can you decide to go against it and follow another path? Hmmm... that's cleary a different definition from the one I had in mind. Could you illuminate a little more?

Oh, and don't worry about the headache...I like a little pain *grins* and I just love discussions like this. Only wish I knew the theoretical background a little better.

[fantassy]

Oh boy, I actually read that book in school and successfully wiped it out of my memory - I hated it at the time! But that goes for a lot of literature we had to struggle through. I might give it another try.

So, if I understand you correctly you're saying that predetermination (as Antigone sees it) only sets some sort of goal or mission in your life? Like a life long search or task you have to fulfill? And how would you know what it is then? Can you decide to go against it and follow another path? Hmmm... that's cleary a different definition from the one I had in mind. Could you illuminate a little more?

If I recall my Sophocles correctly, (is that a different Antigone, Ed?) the idea was that you think you have free will to choose, but no matter what choice you make - no matter how hard you try to avoid it, you will end up at your predestined future. Thus posing the query, were you merely predestined to make the choice you made or would have ended up at the same place no matter what choice you made?

That being said I belief in free will (or at least the illusion of it), and although nuture influences us, we have the free will to overcome it.

fantassy

[Uncle_Ed]

If I recall my Sophocles correctly, (is that a different Antigone, Ed?) the idea was that you think you have free will to choose, but no matter what choice you make - no matter how hard you try to avoid it, you will end up at your predestined future. Thus posing the query, were you merely predestined to make the choice you made or would have ended up at the same place no matter what choice you made?



fantassy

I believe you are correct about Sophocles.
And about the definition of destiny.
Are we pre-destined to make the choice? Ah! It would be in our nature to make one specific choice..any other would go against our nature.
Would we end up at the same place? yes. Our destination is set.

Horrible idea!

[Uncle_Ed]

So, if I understand you correctly you're saying that predetermination (as Antigone sees it) only sets some sort of goal or mission in your life? Like a life long search or task you have to fulfill? And how would you know what it is then? Can you decide to go against it and follow another path? Hmmm... that's cleary a different definition from the one I had in mind. Could you illuminate a little more?

Does pre-determination set a goal or mission?
No-it sets everything.
If our lives are pre-determined then all missions and all goals are already set-we just follow the script...
Can we go against it? No
Can we follow another path? Follow any path you seem to choose; Destiny has been there before you!
I personally will not believe this to be true. I believe in myself, although I'm not sure about the rest of you...!
You sound like my sort of person!
I'd make you read Antigone then set you an exam.
Any wrong answers and...