Could you forgive someone who shot you?

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by LSPoorEeyorick

Also, and I meant to say this before:

If someone who shot me mistook me for a quail, I'd forgive him, but I'd demand his resignation from public office.

[MouseWife]

I think it does make a difference if it were done on purpose or not. But, again, like others have said, it would be a day to day emotion. Maybe even a morning to night getting through it.

In this case, I think she has learned forgiveness BUT also, she was only 2 when it happened, it is quite true she doesn't know exactly what was taken from her. But, for her to have the positive attitutude that someone didn't do this to her on purpose {helping her to get over her anger} she might be better able to move on and find out what she is capable of doing in her situation.

I know it's been said that forgiveness has nothing to do with the punishment given, but, I would hope that the judge would take the persons history in to account also. There are people who do things and when they get caught or something happens they say 'It was an accident' 'I never meant for that to happen' 'I would never hurt anyone'. I would hope that people don't let someone like this get over being punished.

Do you remember the man who set the fire here in San Diego {up in the hills} because he was lost? All of the damage and all of the people who died? He really f'd up. It wasn't deliberate. There are people who forgive him and those who don't. Of course he never meant for any of that to happen. THAT is a horrible case, too. He may have forgiveness from some but he will always have to live with how his mistake cost so much to so many.

[Not Afraid]

Some days I think I could forgive, other days I probably would have a hard time doing it. Forgiveness is like anything you have to let go of.....its a daily reprieve type of thing. Some days are easier than others but the reason to hold a grudge will probably always be there, living in some dark corner, for the rest of a person's life and what becomes of that grudge can change on a daily basis.

[bewitched]

Alex, your posts remind me of the theory of parallel universes.

If every outcome of every decision of every moment exists, are we truly experiencing free will? Or is free will only self perception? That would inevitably lead to the question of actuality (reality) vs potentiality (possibilities). I mean, are we actually being deterministic, or are we hurtling along into an infinite number of outcomes/potentialities (that have, and will always exist) each one predetermined by the outcome preceeding it? And if our conscious state is perceiving the actuality which we inhabit, are we exercising free will, or are we "perceiving" free will? So I guess this would break off from your interpretation insofar as it's not so much a chemical determination, but that each action is followed by a predetermined outcome since the initial action split the potential future actions off from the infinite number of other future actions.

In short, are we living an actuality in a sea of possibilities (i.e. we have free will)? Or are we each living a potentiality in a sea of infinite actualities (parallel universes)?

And yes, if you think about this too long, it will totally screw with your brain.



(Damn Brian Greene for being so cute that I had to read his book).

...also wondering if that spewed from my brain correctly...

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Could the physics of your brain have been saying "SPIN JUST TWICE" but something in your "animated spirit" said "AWAY SILLY PHYSICS, I'M SPINNING THREE TIMES!!!" Everybody will perceive the latter and most will also believe it to be the truth.

The electro-mechanics of my brain waves are the silly physics, but the decision to stop at 2, 3, or 14 zillion are free will.

My car moves forward because of the physics of internal combustion (and a host of other scientific relationships and principles), but it took my choice and personal action of stepping on the accelerator to start the process.

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

If I tell you to spin in circles and then stop...

Actually, MY free will would have told you to go fly a kite

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Alex

If I tell you to spin in circles and then stop...

Originally Posted by kevy

Actually, MY free will would have told you to go fly a kite

Unless it was during MA...

[€uroMeinke]

I concede that Free Will may not be verifiable through scientific experiment, but as a phenomenologist at heart, I'll accept my perception of it as good enough. Like wise, I will hold others responsible for their actions.

For me it starts with Descart - I think therefore I am. It's my personal consciousness that is evidence enough for me and the fact that I learn over time what in my environment I have control over and what I do not. Thus I can throw a ball but not my automobile. I'm not sure learning makes any sense without free will, or what I can't experience what others are experienceing or what a rock is experiencing.

What is consciousness if not free will?

[innerSpaceman]

This is a very interesting discussion, but some of you people are just frelling crazy.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

This is a very interesting discussion, but some of you people are just frelling crazy.

What... you're just now figuring that out?!?

[Prudence]

I'm not crazy, and neither is my invisible friend, Mr. Pickles.