15 Comments

Given everything that a person is, accumulated through time, when one faces a completely novel situation they are at the whim of the quantum entanglement throw of the dice.

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Morality is simply defined as offering health and reducing pain.

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An important discussion to have - if it matters to you.

To the question: How can we parse to the smallest impulse whether act wholly on objective reasoning. We are filled with impressions, voices of those who raised us, conditioning both deliberate and some destructive, even antithetical to logic.

Freedom is relinquishing this question and acting with morality (do no harm) and kindness (do unto others as you would have them do unto you).

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I agree with you. What is troubling is that the question of free will brings us to a place where there is no morality because of the belief that we have no choice. As for me, I firmly believe in free will, that we are morally and ethically responsible for what we do. As we used to say, when I worked in psychiatry with acutely mentally ill people, “mental illness is no excuse for bad behavior.” Well, I’m not so sure about that now.

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Concur on acting always both ethically and morally. These should be taught, if not by example then in classrooms (along with civics but that’s another avenue though not wholly). Hard not to believe generations are not being deliberately shown that ethics don’t matter, that having a place in society requires responsibility.

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May 13
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I agree. We take this as seriously. We model it. Not saints, just as human beings who choose to live in society with all its responsibilities. The children, the grandchildren, nieces nephews, their children. Listen, Be honest, do the right thing, speak truth, help whenever you can. Do something with your lives that open doors, at the very least do no harm.

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Great comment and I totally agree

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May 13
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Yes. You can choose to be a good person. No matter the circumstances.

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I like that and agree...even though I sometimes have my doubts, oh well.

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It’s very hard some days, I must admit. But I inspired so many people to walk the straight and good line, I would have never known about. It makes me feel good that I chose to be a good person and do my best to walk it and talk it. When others approach me and tell me that they have now chosen that path because of me and attitude. I am proud of my choices.

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Great article. I go back and forth on this. Ask me about free will tomorrow and you’ll get a different answer than today.

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Richard, me too.

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May 12
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I go back and forth. One day I know we have free will and we are responsiple for our actions. Well I think we are responsible and are accountable free will or not. I should stop because I'm confusing myself on this issue.

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