Mike raises the issue of human values - individual, cultural, and species
wide. The relationship of self-conscious free will and determinism as part
of nature is explored in a paper by Tom Clark linked below.
A main point I've tried rather unsuccessfully to make for the past two
years on this list is that *uncertainty*, although ranging from
uncomfortable to unbearable for most of us, is the most reasonable position
to hold about the 'big' issues of ethics, metaphysics, aesthetics, as well
as about the future. Probabilities...opinions...
Whenever it is said about human problems that "the only way(or solution) is
to..." I am stimulated to rebut. There is an untenable certainty involved
with "only" that can be attributed to arrogance, ignorance, or maybe
hope...but likely false hope.
Enjoy the essay if you've got 10 minutes.
Steve
http://world.std.com/~twc/morality.htm
http://world.std.com/~twc/morality.htm
