Philosophy / Science / Religion

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I typed and erased four other words before settling on "zebra." Was that a chemical process entirely physical in nature? Of course, we can never know. But why anyone would have such a notion is beyond me.

Well, it isn't exactly a new notion, Democritus described a form of determinism 2,500 years ago.

But yes, if you generally accept the notion of supernatural phenomena then it would make no sense to accept a view based on hard determinism.

But let me ask you a question that I'm sure will seem like nonsense: If you can will yourself to have typed zebra instead of some other word, independent of any external input, why can't a rock will itself to roll uphill?

I, however, don't see determinism as dehumanizing, any more than learning that the origin of thunder and lightning is a purely physical process (as opposed to supernatural) makes them less impressive. Frankly, if anything, I find it more amazing that whatever we perceive as consciousness is an emergent process than if we just waived our hands in the air and proclaim it "magic."