William Fiegehen's Fantastical Metaphysical Inquiries
The debate around free will versus determinism explores whether our actions are truly free or predestined. Determinism argues that every decision is influenced by prior causes, nullifying the concept of free will.
William Fiegehen's Fantastical Metaphysical Inquiries
What is a person? Is the self and mind distinguishable from the body?
Aristotle's law of Identity simply states "A is A" this means everything, every particular is unique. That even this sentence I am typing could have been typed before but is nonetheless unique because of the context with which it is being typed. For example, many leaves can be described as "red, tattered and swift" yet a specific leaf that lands beside you is unique. That leaf is A. It has a particular identity that differs from any other red leaf, because it landed in that spot and at that time. (Paul David 2018). An application of this law in terms of personhood could be that each and every individual is unique, their identity is unique. Despite the fact that humans, being the same species share 99% of the same genetic makeup (AlphaBioLabs 2023). We are all unique, we think and experience differently. While a little difficult to extrapolate into the mind-body problem I would argue that the law of identity also applies for one's mind and body. Your mind is A, and A is A. Therefore it is not connected to your body. Your body is B, B is B. Separating the two, although they are of the same biological system, they are unique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGoXXPvzP8M
https://alphabiolabsusa.com/learning-center/how-much-dna-do-we-share/
Identity & Change: Law of Identity
From a Humanist perspective, people have a special place in the universe, they are of a unique importance and have some element of "spiritually transcendent moral purpose" (Genetically Modified Skeptic 2021). From my understanding, a humanist would not necessarily touch upon a distinction between mind and body but rather an acknowledgment that humans are of a breed of special animal that has a level of consciousness greater and more developed then of any other being. Perhaps the humanist would argue it is precisely the mind that separates humans from other animals and other consciousness, we are unique in our ability to think about thinking itself.
https://youtu.be/oQ1TJ7oUMHg
Dualism is one such explanation of personhood. Dualism is the notion of separation between mind and matter. That objects are matter whilst concepts are mind. For example, a rock as an object is purely matter however, the concept of a 'soul' is purely mind, there is no substance to it's existence. It isn't tangible. Dualism tends to fall apart in practical application due to overwhelming evidence of correlation between the physical and the mental through the brain. However, as a theory for personhood it is one that I tend to gravitate to, that we are less defined by our physical but instead by our mental. As Descartes put it "I am thinking, therefore I exist." It is a very prudent theory for personhood as one's physical features are not to be judged but certainly their personality and mentality is. This philosophy further extends to A.I. If we can define personhood by one's ability to think original and creative thoughts, at some point A.I's claim to personhood might not be as far fetched as many seem to argue. Certainly it is amoral to judge someone by their physical features thus this separation of mental and physical is necessary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SJROTXnmus
Do we have free will? Are our actions predetermined?
"Fatalism is the view that no matter what we do, the world will still come out the same way." (Professor Polger 2020). Fatalism is inherently reductive in my eyes. It doesn't solve any problems. A fatalist could not argue moral responsibility as in their eyes, nothing really matters, it'll all be the same in the end. Furthermore, a fatalist sides very heavily with a determinist however, it feels as if the causes of predetermination in one's life is ignored by the fatalist. Determinism is a stance I sympathize with a lot more as it can be interpreted through a socioeconomic lens that shines a light on a number of problems our world has. Determinism acknowledges inequality and how much luck plays into one's existence. Fatalism takes an approach more similar to Nihilism, that nothing matters, no individual matters and everything is destined regardless of your decisions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcXHtOOS1HY
Determinism & Free Will: Fatalism
Determinism is the perspective that no choice made is truly free, everything is predetermined. "Everything you think and do arises from this ocean of prior causes" (Sam Harris 2017). This perspective is one that explains away all sense of free will, through the eyes of a determinist like Sam Harris, free will is simply an illusion. Even the choices you think yourself capable of making are not genuine, you have been influenced throughout your life into a specific perspective that can always make choices for you. That is, when you have the ability to choose, you are not ever truly choosing. This perspective I don't particularly agree with but I can sympathize with it, many people don't have the ability to make choices in their lives, some people are born into poverty and never have the economic stability to leave a poor lifestyle. Struggling to put food on the table is not a choice. However, Determinists have to disregard moral responsibility. Their line of thinking does not support the notion of one being held accountable for their actions. This is why I favor soft determinism, I understand that there is a large element of predetermination in one's life. You do not choose your parents, the country you are born in etc... However, I do believe in moral responsibility one can choose, to do a bad or evil action and must be held accountable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t_Uyi9bNS4
Determinism & Free Will: Determinism
Compatibilism is the notion of soft determinism. In other words, there are only some actions that are truly representations of free will. One can decide to make a choice when one is presented however, it is not necessarily the case that a choice was presented. For example, if one were to be pushed into a pool or to jump into a pool, the former was determined while the latter was an example of free will. This theory still entails moral responsibility while also acknowledging how one is, at times, not granted a choice. With soft determinism there is still some element of responsibility for one's own actions. It also leaves room to interpret the actions of someone hallucinating is not necessarily their fault. This theory allows to argue for concepts such as rehabilitation in prison systems or incarceration to begin with.
Determinism & Free Will: Compatibilism
Is there meaning in life? Or is there such a thing as a meaningful life?
Dualism as the separation between the physical and the mental allow one to argue or put into question the very nature of our being. Descartes understood that he is in fact real, his thoughts are his evidence. But what could be questioned was his senses, what he experienced in the world around him was not necessarily real, perhaps a dream. Descartes argued, his senses could be manipulated but his thoughts were true. Descartes wrote about an 'evil demon' that perhaps could be manipulating him to see and experience the things he does. (Closer to Truth 2021). Subjective Idealism is a metaphysical line of thinking that puts into question the very nature of what it is that we experience and our reality. It is a perspective I have, in the past been quite critical of not only for it's unlikeliness, for if nothing we experience is truly real, if it is all an allusion? What is the point of anything? But a recent realization has allowed me to utilize it for this assignment. Perhaps there is no meaning or point to anything. If nothing is real, we have no purpose. Yet what we experience continues to remain. Perhaps our purpose is not to have one, but rather, to sit back and watch. Perhaps we are being told a story of which we are all the main character, we live through life's many intricacies and watch in awe at the story that enfolds around us. Our meaning in life is to die with a smile on our faces.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y_NidtLVGo
Realism is the notion that everything we experience is real. There is an objective reality and we need not argue over existence as it is the most likely solution. Furthermore, a realist would argue that there is a presence of undeniable moral truth, right or wrong, good or evil are not only real but definable. (Closer to Truth 2021). Applying this to meaning in life, one could argue if all is real then all is important. Your actions truly effect everything and everyone around you, your impact is important. To further extrapolate, a realist might argue that if everyone around you is real it is important to treat them properly, there is a set of moral responsibilities that are indeed definable and must be followed. Meaning through a realist lens would probably contain healthy and flourishing friendships and relationships as well important and lasting work that can be a signifier of your mark left on the world. Channeling one's self into work that perhaps one day might be viewed as art. Meaning might just be about impacting others positively and living life to it's fullest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y_NidtLVGo
Abstract Objects & Mathematics: Realism
An Atheistic perspective on meaning is too often confused with nihilism. Meaning in life and a world without god need not be exclusive. Friedrich Nietzsche the original proponent of the statement "god is dead" often purposed very optimistic solutions to the problems of a world without religion's guidance. In The Last Man Nietzsche describes a lifestyle in which one maximizes pleasure and minimizes pain, this to Nietzsche is a pathetic and meaningless life, one must channel their pain and suffering into something, to create meaningful work. Atheism provides a logical and reason oriented escape from dogmatic religion but leaves room for one to find meaning in their own life beyond sacred text. Meaning is to be found and discovered simultaneously along with discovering one's self.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FDiM59O4sQ
Religion & Spirituality: Atheism
What is Consciousness?
Compatibilism or soft determinism is the notion that some choices are made of genuine free will, whilst other scenarios are predetermined. I connect this to consciousness, it is my opinion that being conscious is having the ability to make choices when possible. In my eyes, creatures like some non-human animals are also conscious, they think and make choices. However, I would argue that what separates humans from other animals is our level of conscious, we can choose far more frequently then any other animal. In this sense, it is why it is considered morally abhorrent to mistreat animals. We have indeed proven that non-human animals are conscious and have emotions. Perhaps not nearly as developed as human emotions but emotions nonetheless. Animals make some decisions such as where to go, where to hide what to eat, etc. However, humans are subject to a much greater degree of decision making, we are able to expect things from the future, to learn from the past and use those to our advantage in the present to better our decision making. Our level of consciousness is on a spectrum, the highest we are aware of.
Determinism & Free Will: Compatibilism
Epistemology is the study of knowledge. To know something is to not only believe it, but also be able to justify and prove it true. (Kent Lofgren 2013). In this sense, can we truly know that we are conscious? I would argue yes. My proof and justification for this claim would be the human mind having the ability to think originally, creatively as well as rationally. We are conscious of our own consciousness. To refer to the famous adage of Descartes "I am thinking therefore I exist." This concept of "I" of beinghood is one rather abstract but definable nonetheless, one can be certain of our existence by our very ability to ponder it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI9-YgSzsEQ
Existence & Consciosness: Epistemology
Dualism is a metaphysical line of though that argues a separation between the physical and the mental, or the mind and matter. Descartes put into question the entirety of the physical world, for in his eyes, one could not prove what one experienced was real. The senses could be questioned, as the senses could be manipulated. For example, through Schizophrenia one could see things that aren't there. However Descartes acknowledged through the famous adage "I am thinking, therefore I exist." That the mind was authentic and could not be put into question. However, this theory tends to fall apart logically when one considers victims of brain damage. Victims of brain damage are often altered significantly after their accident, often resulting in a completely different personality than before. This evidence obviously seems to point to a correlation between the physical and the mental through the brain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SJROTXnmus
Mind & Matter: Dualism
Does God exist? What is our place in the Universe?
Scholasticism is essentially philosophers from the beginning of the middle age to the beginning of the renaissance attempting to combine Christian theology with the works of Aristotle. ( Carneades.org 2020). However, scholasticism is a very broad and difficult to define concept as many of the philosophers of the time tended to disagree consistently with one another. There was a clear lack of a unifying idea beyond that of trying to reason The Bible with Aristotle's work. St. Thomas Aquinas was an extremely influential figure in the development of scholasticism, he bridged the worlds of Christianity and reason. Reminds us that knowledge can and should come from multiple places. Wisdom and intelligence can coexist. From science and also revelation. (The School of Life 2016). Scholasticism is in my opinion, a very respectable perspective. It is one that I don't personally subscribe to but it is how I believe religion should ideally be practiced. Even as an Atheist, spirituality is not necessarily something I am opposed to, it is something I have recognized can be very helpful to people. Spirituality can be a genuine and powerful experience, but it does not need to be exclusive. Science and modernity must also be embraced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJvoFf2wCBU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjFLCLL7G2E
Religion & Spirituality: Scholasticism
Humanism is quite similar to Atheism in that it does not need a god or higher power to worship. It doesn't need a sacred scripture to define morality. However Humanism can be made a clear distinction from Atheism as Atheism is more a belief centered around disbelief. Humanism has a specific interest and practically religious perspective on the human race. Humanists argue that humans are symbolically central to the universe and have some element of "Spiritually transcendent moral purpose" (Genetically Modified Skeptic 2021). There is a sense of ignorant pride that I don't particularly identify with. Humanists argue that people have a special place in the universe, when in reality, it isn't the case. Atheists such as myself tend more to the side of acknowledging how infinitesimally small our role is as individuals, even as the entirety of the human race. Our place in the universe is not one of great magnitude like humanists argue, I would go as far to say we as humans are not special nor important. We do not have purpose or meaning but rather our purpose is to find meaning.
https://youtu.be/oQ1TJ7oUMHg
Religion & Spirituality: Humanism
Atheism is the disbelief in the existence of God or Gods. As Friedrich Nietzsche famously wrote "God is dead." Meaning not that there was an actual God who had perished but rather, the idea of a divine control over the world and our universe had died. Our reality could be proven through science and mathematics, we no long had the need for a divine explanation for our existence. Furthermore modern philosophy could discern morality, morality was no longer based upon sacred texts but rather rational thinking. In this respect Nietzsche argued that the belief of God has suddenly become unbelievable. Nietzsche also argued in the face of Nihilism, one must constantly discover oneself, life is an adventure of letting an old self die to have a new self reborn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FDiM59O4sQ
