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From: williams@kirk.DEC (John Williams 223-3402)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: Justifications of Paradigms
Message-ID: <3489@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 6-Aug-85 17:26:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.3489
Posted: Tue Aug  6 17:26:25 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Aug-85 20:32:42 EDT
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	Rich, you pointed out a phenomenon where people desire to
think something and rationalize their way towards defending it. I think
they've found another member. I swear I don't know why everyone is
trying to make you a miserable failure.

	Let me outline something for you.

	Everyone who submits to this newsgroup thinks that they have
something valuable to say.

	Everyone who submits to this newsgroup lives within the same
reality. ( Some would disagree with me on this )

	You can assure yourself that if you think something someone
says to you is totally off the wall, it is most likely due to your
own misinterpretation. What I see happening is these misinterpretations
being used as support for your argument. I should point out that you
are not the only guilty party.

	I believe that you believe that your theories are beneficial
to mankind. There is nothing so unreasonable that I wouldn't believe
that. The key to interpreting other people accurately is that they
think the very same exact thing. You think the concept of free will
is detrimental to society because it imposes a responsability system
which has a tendency to blame individuals for social problems. TRUE?

	The problem is is that if you get rid of the concept of free
will entirely, you start blaming society for individual problems. I
still think that free will is a useful concept, as long as it is
understood that we are never completely free from external influence.

	Let's face it, we live in an analog world, where everything
affects everything else. Not only do we affect our environment, we are
effected by it. I think it is equally as dangerous to blame society
for everything that doesn't work in your life.

	Now, I don't mean to change the context too much, but perhaps
you should reconsider your stand regarding free will. I think you have
brought out many interesting points, and I think you should continue,
but perhaps you should consider the other side for a while. You certainly
won't be the first person to change their mind. Maybe the first in this
newsgroup, but not the world. You're going to wear down. I'm afraid you'll
have to settle for the rifined definition. Why not now, before you back
yourself any further into the corner?

						John.