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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Road Walker who wrote (578487)	7/29/2010 12:51:56 PM
From: Tenchusatsu	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1572989

RW, you're venturing into the realm of existentialism. Philosophers have already discussed the concepts of the individual and his or her emotions, actions, responsibilities, and thoughts. Suffice to say that if most of our actions are pre-determined by biology and environment, there is little room for individual responsibility. Everything we feel, say, and do is just a function of factors outside of our control. It's a rather nihilistic way of thinking. So what else influences our actions? And can it be quantifiably measured? I think the answer to the second question is obvious, but that doesn't mean there is nothing else involved other than genetics and experience. It just means we can't use traditional science to answer the first question. Tenchusatsu

To: Road Walker who wrote (578487)	7/29/2010 2:06:59 PM
From: one_less	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1572989

"you have to add another element that influences our actions. What is it?" Conscious awareness and the ability to choose. Challenge, interest, curiosity, competency, control, etc are accessible constructs of consciousness. Conscious awareness is on the one hand a simple matter of existence but on the other awareness and higher states of consciousness can be accomplished by deliberate attempts to increase one's lucidity in present circumstance and to form growth oriented intentions. Surely you can observe that some people accept whatever life gives them and just go with the flow without much consideration for the alternative possibilities available, almost zombie like; while other people are constantly testing the limits and creating new venues. The former probably do not give free will much credit where as the latter find it an on going and enjoyable exercise.