Pinker preview: What about genetics? Is there any evidence to support the notion that people all start out the same? We all start out with very similar apparatus, I don't deny that--but you were born with very different potentials from the ones I was born with.
We don't come standard issue. Think of people as marble statues. Every block of marble starts out a rectangular prism, sure, but the sweeping swirls and patterns within are unique every time. The basic properties of the marble are the same, but each block has its own potential and internal characteristics.
what are you talking about? you're not 23! your birthday is in may. it's april right now. you're 22. right? i'm not great at math but if you were 23 now in may you'll be 24 and that makes you 2 years older than me and that makes no sense at all.
honestly, my thoughts tend to fall into this pattern:
a) if someone is affecting my life in a negative way then they're a jerk and should get over themselves. anyone causing me or my loved ones harm is an asshole, forget their past, forget what they've been through. b) when i find myself falling into stupid patterns of action, i blame my circumstances.
i think the free will vs. determinism is a philosophical nightmare. i've read a lot of the literature and frankly couldn't give a flying fart about it, it holds no interest for me whatsoever. i'm more interested in my honest beliefs (see above), which are irrational as hell, but very honestly what i believe.
whatever the answer is, i'm fairly sure it has nothing to do with causality or issues relating to that.
yeah, well, um. i blame peel's educational system for my inability to realize that it's not may yet. 2005-1982 might be 23, but those months come into play too, don't they?
i really keep forgetting how old i am lately though. meh. they asked me at the casino and then swiped my license to ensure its authenticity after i paused and was like, "22 i think."
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Specifically, The Blank Slate. Available at Chapter, Amazon, and your friendly neighbourhood public library.
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We don't come standard issue. Think of people as marble statues. Every block of marble starts out a rectangular prism, sure, but the sweeping swirls and patterns within are unique every time. The basic properties of the marble are the same, but each block has its own potential and internal characteristics.
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honestly, my thoughts tend to fall into this pattern:
a) if someone is affecting my life in a negative way then they're a jerk and should get over themselves. anyone causing me or my loved ones harm is an asshole, forget their past, forget what they've been through.
b) when i find myself falling into stupid patterns of action, i blame my circumstances.
i think the free will vs. determinism is a philosophical nightmare. i've read a lot of the literature and frankly couldn't give a flying fart about it, it holds no interest for me whatsoever. i'm more interested in my honest beliefs (see above), which are irrational as hell, but very honestly what i believe.
whatever the answer is, i'm fairly sure it has nothing to do with causality or issues relating to that.
descartes was wrong, and a loser.
- paul
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i really keep forgetting how old i am lately though. meh. they asked me at the casino and then swiped my license to ensure its authenticity after i paused and was like, "22 i think."
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