Good?
What is "good"? How can I define it? My lessons in religion class teaches that "the very reason that
man wills is for ‘good’"
I believe that every voluntary action a man does (and I think even every species) is the result
of our desire for a benefit.
Does this mean that "good" is synonymous with self benefit? By saying that this person is a good murderer, is he a good person? I think not. I’m going to do some research on this.
I’m arguing with the philosophy teacher that divine foreknowledge does contradict free will.
Right now, he argues that one of my premises is invalid. My statement is that certainty contradicts free will; and it is necessary to be uncertain for free will to exist. Here’s why I think so…
…I am certain that Bach will do X five minutes from now, therefore he will do X five minutes from now. Bach does Y instead of X; therefore, I was wrong. The problem is that "God" is infallible; he is never wrong. So, if he is certain that Bach will do X five minutes from now, he has to do it. Okay, what if he does Y instead? Doing Y instead of X will contradict his infallibility.
I just realized that all I was doing was creating a red herring. His definition of certainty is synonymous with Infallible foreknowledge. I at first disagreed with him and stated that certainty can still go wrong. I can say that I am certain that there will be class on monday next week. On monday, there was a typhoon and there isn’t any class. Still, I was certain. He defines that certainty cannot be wrong. Therefore, I think that infallible certainty is the more appropriate term. This is where I realized that I created the red herring; because my definition of infallible certainty is his definition of certainty. In his opinion, my logic is circular; I disagree, I’m still going to study this argument further though.
Oh yeah, I’ve just read The Good Earth. The book was ok, 4 out of 5 I guess? I think the reason that the book became popular is because Pearl S. Buck showed the Chinese characters as normal people.
I’m thinking of reading the book called Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, another classic!
Badminton club’s starting two weeks from now. I can’t really hold this excitement!
July 4th, 2005 at 7:47 pm
Les Miserables is the most awesome story. I watched the musical performance in my French class sometimes during the school year. It’s a very very good story. It’s good that you want to read the book. I can’t find that book here. Enjoy reading the book!!
July 5th, 2005 at 3:46 am
“I’m arguing with the philosophy teacher that divine foreknowledge does contradict free will.
Right now, he argues that one of my premises is invalid.”
What premise are you invalid at?
His definition of certainty is synonymous with Infallible foreknowledge.
There are levels of certainty. And God’s certainty happens to be at the maximum and perfect level.
In his opinion, my logic is circular
I fail to see how.
After rereading everything I still don’t understand your philosophy teacher’s standpoint. Does he believe that divine foreknowledge is compatible with freewill?