how much are we accountable for our lives? granted, we have choices - but do some not have more choices than others, regardless of previous actions? furthermore, do good things happen to good people?

how much are we accountable for our lives? granted, we have choices - but do some not have more choices than others, regardless of previous actions? furthermore, do good things happen to good people?

0% 2nd question - no, I don't believe in karma. Atoms just bounce about, 'choices' are just metaphysical and abstract/representational.

0% 2nd question - no, I don't believe in karma. Atoms just bounce about, 'choices' are just metaphysical and abstract/representational.

So in your opinion there is no such thing as, for lack of a better term, 'true freedom'?

how much are we accountable for our lives? granted, we have choices - but do some not have more choices than others, regardless of previous actions? furthermore, do good things happen to good people?

I don't think we have much of a choice. The very environment you are born into shapes who you are. As children we take everything in and most of the time we don't think about it nor do we have control of it. What we learn when we're just little kids shapes our thoughts, beliefs, values, and attitudes for the future. Because of we this, I don't think we really have to much control of our future. You might think we do because we can choose what we want to be when we grow up but our decisions and thoughts will have been affected by what we were taking in as kids.

So in your opinion there is no such thing as, for lack of a better term, 'true freedom'?

Hmm, yes. Well, I think there is no "I" for there to be true freedom. I am a hard determinist. The "I" is a social construct. "I" am just a collection of atoms, which are actual entities, which are all controlled by laws. There is no reason to believe there is any room for 'freedom'. Not that we can't say "I" think/believe this or that, but it is simply metaphysical. Wonderfully functional on a societal level, but not wholly important.

quote]life - a roll of the dice? (http://www.totse.com/community/showthread.php?p=10372227#post10372227)

I would say so.