Free will or lack of.......

[the village idiot]

3 minutes ago, Stubby said:

God don't like me . We have never got on .

That's almost certainly a lot more profound than you meant it to be Stubby!

[Stubby]

8 minutes ago, the village idiot said:

That's almost certainly a lot more profound than you meant it to be Stubby!

No he hates me .

[onetruth]

26 minutes ago, the village idiot said:

(1) Am I right in thinking that you believe nothing can exist without conciousness being present?

(2) Also, could you explain your conclusion that conciousness is eternal?

(3) Sorry for all the probing but it is clear that a lot of us find this stuff fascinating, and I for one have no philosophy training and need things spelt out ad nauseum.

(4) Part of my brain thinks that sometimes the conclusions of philosophical thinking (although technically accurate) can be a barrier to achieving further real understanding.

(1) Yes, but I'd probably simplify it to: nothing exists but consciousness.  You previously said that without consciousness, things are pointless.  I'd agree with that, too.  But consciousness is its own point - it's not there to give meaning to other things or fulfil some higher purpose.

(2) By eternal I mean permanent, unchanging, indivisible, not limited by time or space.

(3) I logged on last night to get a quote for some woodchip.  Don't apologise for encouraging me to talk about things that interest me - it is very rare to find an interested audience in my day-to-day life!

(4) I think I see what you mean, but they are only barriers if we become obsessed with detail.  Physicists struggle to see truth beyond physics, just as politicians struggle to see truth outside of politics.  But that isn't to say we shouldn't pursue the lines of thought we happen to enjoy, it's just better not to become a fundamentalist (in any sense of the word).  When I'm thirsty, I drink water, not H2O.

[onetruth]

16 minutes ago, Stubby said:

God don't like me . We have never got on .

You don't masturbate, do you? He thinks that's disgusting.

[the village idiot]

16 minutes ago, onetruth said:

But that isn't to say we shouldn't pursue the lines of thought we happen to enjoy, it's just better not to become a fundamentalist (in any sense of the word).  When I'm thirsty, I drink water, not H2O.

Great example!

[the village idiot]

27 minutes ago, onetruth said:

You don't masturbate, do you? He thinks that's disgusting.

Pretty sure Stubby would tell you it's his personal experience of a universal constant.

 

[Stubby]

6 minutes ago, the village idiot said:

Pretty sure Stubby would tell you it's his personal experience of a universal constant.

 

Bash my bishop twice a day whether I need it or not

[Rough Hewn]

Nature,
The universe,
God.
What's the difference?
Not in a philosophical or theological way, but in a day to day scenario.
What difference does it make?

Oh and stubby if there is a god.
He watches you in the shower.
[emoji12]

[onetruth]

2 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

Nature,
The universe,
God.
What's the difference?

None, I'd say.  It just depends who you're talking to and what you're talking about.  

[the village idiot]

3 minutes ago, Rough Hewn said:

Nature,
The universe,
God.
What's the difference?
Not in a philosophical or theological way, but in a day to day scenario.
What difference does it make?

Oh and stubby if there is a god.
He watches you in the shower.

I would say that philosophy and theology are inseperable from our day to day scenario's.

 

In our day to day we act based on what be believe the nature of these things to be. These actions can make a very big difference.