Tuesday
6:31 p.m.
Rachel,
I am amazed with how the internet has seemed to place all of us on a first name basis. If this offends you, and I doubt that it does...
Dear Ms. Maddow,
In the very near future as a result of physics based brain research science it will be understood that not only are the mathematics' disciplines, the physical sciences and the natural sciences subject to the reality of a determined universe, but the social sciences are subject to the reality of a determined universe as well. These are a mere fifty-five words encapsulating a revolution which has no precedent in Earth history. Take as much time as you think necessary to let this sink in. If you comprehend this reality in even the least possible measure you will pause for a year or two!
Don't take my word for it. Consider the words of these significantly credentialed people:
Einstein
Spinoza
M. Twain
B. Russell
R. W. Emerson
C. Darwin
Buddha
F. Crick
S. Pinker
D. Dennett
R. Dawkins
It is in the wind. The intuitive nature of free-will is a straight jacket which if not shed will cause mankind to plummet into the waiting arms of extinction at the bottom of the proverbial cliff. Considering mankind's free-will proclivity to colossal destruction it is entirely possible Earth will join its siblings with the characteristic of lifelessness.
Okay, it is now 2010. A determined universe being accepted, the concept of sharing the wealth is based in pure science. Distilling the premise to this statement down to a few words is not possible. Please bear with me.
Free-will postulates that who and what we are is the effect of autonomous choice. Determinism postulates that who and what we are is the effect of external causes. Free-will embraces the present mega-wealthy/mass destitution economic structure. Determinism embraces a universal distribution of wealth economic structure. Free-will is supported by intuition. Determinism is supported by the scientific method. The crux of the free-will dilemma is consciousness. The dynamic of consciousness as an autonomous force is endowed with incredible universal credibility as regards free-will because of its intuitive nature. This intuition is made impotent by the assertion of brain science research that consciousness is an after the fact awareness.
• What this means is each of us is the sum total of our genetic predisposition and life experience.
• What that means is we are a result and not a causeless cause.
• Boil that down to relevance and what it means is each of us is a dimensionless point atop an unbelievably gargantuan cone of universal experience.
• Because each of us [each individual] is a result means the only entity which has no primary ability to impact our [the individual's] personal reality is us [that individual]. Those around us can impact us by participating in our realm of experience, but because our consciousness, our conscious "I," is an after the fact awareness of our personal brain function, our functional "I," the entity which we consider to be who and what we are, our holistic "I," can only impact our Self by [using what has been placed within us by others to impact those around us, who will then be able to impact us if the knowledge given to them is sufficient to cause them to do so. Whatever happens, the individual will only be aware of it after it happens!]
• Who and what we are is solely the result of external causes.
• We are not self-made.
• We are other-made.
• The natural construct resulting from this logic is: Those deserving to benefit from who and what we are, are those who have made us who and what we are.
• This being physics-based Truth and not merely an intuitive wish, our paycheck belongs to every other person eons before it belongs to us.
Trying to digest this with a free-will mindset is humanly impossible. Ain't gonna happen! From a free-will perspective, it is nonsense. As best you can, set this intuitive mindset aside and approach all this as if a determined universe is unquestioned, which it will be at some point in history. Without the acceptance of the premise of a determined universe, I guarantee, you'll vomit! Perhaps laugh a lot! Pass this by Steve Pinker at Harvard University or any person who is on the cusp of contemporary brain research. If mankind manages to survive long enough, this will be the next revolution, the next uninhabited land begging to be explored and incorporated into our social experience. Without this, at best, the future of mankind is bleak.
You may want to read Cris Evatt's book, The Myth of Free Will: Essays and Quotes by 50 of the World's Leading Thinkers, and Daniel M. Wegner's book, The Illusion of Conscious Will.
Sincerely,
Ronald K. Olson
I am unreservedly at your service.
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