View Single Post
Old 12-20-2004, 12:55 AM  
Shoehorn!
Die With Your Boots On
 
Shoehorn!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 22,872
Quote:
Originally posted by CET
I don't think either are the case. I think there is a weak determinism running our lives. We have free will within the confines of our genes, memes and environment. Those who are genetically predisposed to being violent aren't going to become gentle people. Those who grew up with dogs as companions are horrified at those who eat dogs and probably could not bring themselves to ever knowingly eat dog. Those who lived 500 years ago could not become astronauts, because that simply wasn't an option.

We are victims of causation, and have limited ability to actually choose our own fate within the confines given to us.
What about the people who have broken those barriers? Like Oprah for example, she was rasied in a poor family, both financially and physically. She was molested and things like that as a child, yet she overcame all that and is now worth billions of dollars.
__________________
Shoehorn! is offline   Share thread on Digg Share thread on Twitter Share thread on Reddit Share thread on Facebook Reply With Quote