I tend to think pretty biologically about control as it's deep-seated in many animal systems. I think those moments when the conversation lowers when the boss turns up and when people start shuffling paper tell us a lot about control. I don't believe in free will much, other than that we can choose to do the right thing or not - and are often too scared to do much other than follow the herd. Leibniz made the arguments of Escher and Hofstader long ago and we might think of a world of logical possibility. Self seems only known in social context and I fancy a better understanding of biology could be much more useful than philosophy in helping us be aware of what is happening to us as Don describes. I suspect we have lost control in leadership and it's become nasty, bitchy (not much to do with the increased presence of women) and lacking in that empathy that tells us to respect others and only rarely over-ride their concerns. The mechanisms in this are crude.
On 23 July, 14:48, Don Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > We do not choose to > like or dislike something, it is a reaction to established values, > imho. > > This is true to a point. However, one can change one's opinion or > have a seemingly incongruous opinion when it benefits the opiner. > For instance, hypothetically, I choose to like my sister-in-law. > Normally, I would never associate with or converse with or have > business with this person but the fact that she is my son's aunt and > loves him I tend to ignore the qualities about her I find > objectionable. I am willing to help her when she needs it because she > is family and to make this easier on me I find things about her I like > and focus on these things. Quite honestly I wouldn't have gone > through the effort if she wasn't my son's aunt. Hypothetically > speaking. > > Sometimes when under a great deal of stress I start to feel 'out of > control' or 'helpless.' I recognize this and nip it in the bud. I > take control, or the illusion of control, and mentally list my choices > and make a decision. I'm under the most stress when I feel I don't > know how to handle a situation. So I force myself to make a decision > and go with it and change it up later if it looks like it's not > working. Doing nothing makes it ten times as bad. Action, good or > bad, is linked with control. IMO. Those that do nothing are not in > control at all, they are at the mercy of those that act; good or bad. > > dj > > > > On Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 7:16 AM, deripsni<[email protected]> wrote: > > > I am not sure I would catagorize perception as controlled, but more > > reactionary, similar to an opinion. To me, an opinion isn't contrived, > > but is the result of variables, such as a comparison to established > > moral values, preferred individual taste, etc. We do not choose to > > like or dislike something, it is a reaction to established values, > > imho. > > > On Jul 23, 6:23 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > > wrote: > >> Mollay asks: > > >> 'Do we have the power to create our realities? Are we in control? > >> What do YOU think? > > >> In many ways we do create our relalities, in the ways of how we > >> percive things certianly. In realtion to how the world really is, > >> maybe not so much. > > >> If we each look at a tree in the park, it is the same tree that we > >> stare at, even if our notice picks out things that others do not. So > >> the tree is real, our perception of the tree may differ. > > >> We do have the power of veto and I have long argued that this is the > >> very basis of free will, so yes the fact that we can and do make > >> descicions means we are in control. Think of it like a cars gears. > > >> Those that drive automatics cut out the need to manualy depress and > >> engage the clutch, the clutch is still engaged though, but the car > >> does not yet drive itself. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
