Socrates Dialogue
Essay by Zomby • September 22, 2012 • Study Guide • 1,620 Words (7 Pages) • 7,108 Views
DETERMINISM
Socrates: What is Determinism?
Me: Determinism is when one believes that everything is pre-determine and is planned and cannot be altered. For example: It's saying that if John got into an accident last night because he was drunk, determinism is believing that was meant to happen.
Socrates: Steve, do you believe in Determinism?
Me: No I don't, I believe one determines their own actions.
Socrates: Are you saying that we were all meant to do whatever we want and nothing is predetermined? For example: Humans believing in God or a higher power? Don't you think that we predetermined?
Me: I believe we all have our own beliefs and we chose to believe what we want. Determinism would be saying we all have to believe that there is a higher power and we can't believe otherwise. I believe we have an individual choice of choosing our own actions.
Socrates: That makes sense; one should have control over their own actions and determine what happens to them.
FREE WILL
Socrates: What do you think is Free will?
Me: I believe free will is having the option to say yes/no to something, is having your own opinion and the ability to choose your actions.
Socrates: You think you should have the ability to make those choices yourself?
Me: Yes! We are all our own persons and we should have that option to choose what is best for us.
Socrates: What if you choose to do wrong? Don't you think they should be things pre-determine to keep you out of trouble?
Me: If one chooses to commit an act to get him/her in trouble, then he/she should pay the consequences. That's the meaning of free will, having something pre-determine for you is not free will and will make absolutely no sense.
Socrates: I agree, free will, you should be free to do what you please.
EXPLANATORY CAUSE
Socrates: Do you believe every event has to have an Explanatory cause?
Me: No I don't, some things are obvious and can't be explained.
Socrates: Do you think there is no explanation for why someone drinks a lot or why someone gets into a lot of accidents?
Me: Yes, I'm sure they are explanations to those things and I'm sure they are reasons behind them, however how do you explain something like this. John is a boy. This can't be explained because there's nothing to be explained. It's obvious.
Socrates: I agree, not every event has an explanatory cause.
Events
Socrates: How do you define Event Steve?
Me: An event is something that is happening, it could be recurring or not.
Socrates: Would you consider driving your car an event?
Me: Yes, in a sense it's something I'm doing and it's happening.
Socrates: It makes sense.
Me: Yes.
Explanatory cause
Socrates: How do you define the explanatory cause"
Me: it's basically having an explanation for something that you are saying, doing etc.
Socrates: Do you think everything has an explanation?
Me: No I don't, some things just can't be explain or is unexplainable. For example: The sky is blue. You can't really explain why the sky is blue.
Socrates: OK, agree.
Human choice, explanatory cause
Socrates: Do you believe every human choice or event has an explanatory cause?
Me: I believe there are explanatory causes to most choices humans make and events, however I wouldn't say all have an explanatory cause.
Socrates: Why wouldn't you think all? Aren't the an explanation to everything?
Me: Some people choose to make impulse choices, choices that make no sense sometimes and the same goes for events. I believe every circumstance is different.
Socrates: are you saying people make choices without a reason or explanation?
Me: Yes, I know a lot of people that make choices for no reason or explanation.
Socrates:
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