Do people choose their personalities? If the answer is "no", then how does it logically follow that people are...
...responsible for the choices they make when those choices are a result of something which they have no control over?
26-30, M
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abstraction
It's not one or the other. Certain aspects of personality are innate, and then our choices, chances, chemistry, culture, influence of those around us, etc changes it slightly.
And character is not personality. Personality is the manner in which you interact with the world. Character is about whether you are honest, faithful, committed to values, a user, lazy, etc. That's pretty much about choices.
And character is not personality. Personality is the manner in which you interact with the world. Character is about whether you are honest, faithful, committed to values, a user, lazy, etc. That's pretty much about choices.
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OrWhatever · 26-30, M
I apologize for responding so late... What if I changed the syllogism into this? Given the initial conditions of the universe, there could only be one possible series of events across time. Because there is only one possible series of events, any event in the future is inevitable or, in other words, unavoidable. This would mean that something I am going to do, say, several years from now was already going to happen billions of years ago. Therefore, I don't have free will. "The influence of the past has results in the present." Results of which include the choices we make, no? I agree with that last sentence of yours, but I don't think it's what you meant to say.
abstraction
Your syllogism is logical, but based on an assumption.
1. Given the initial conditions of the universe, there could only be one possible series of events across time.
2. Given the conditions of the universe, there can be many possible series of events across time.
Which is true? Your answer assumes the first one without any evidence.
1. Given the initial conditions of the universe, there could only be one possible series of events across time.
2. Given the conditions of the universe, there can be many possible series of events across time.
Which is true? Your answer assumes the first one without any evidence.
abstraction
Evidence for free will: When I make an achievable choice, I consider options and make a decision before I act. What I choose in advance happens in the future. People universally acknowledge this experience. Therefore universal experience is that we have free will.
Serenitree
Character is what you are...personality is the face you show to the world. Yes, you can choose how you want to show yourself to the world. You can choose to be honest and decent, or deceitful and cruel; polite and kind, or rude and nasty; it is all up to you.
Character is a little different. There is less choice in the matter. That seems to be set by the time you are a few weeks old. You can see it in twins; one will be more dominant, while the other is willing to hang back and let the sib take the lead; and so on
Character is a little different. There is less choice in the matter. That seems to be set by the time you are a few weeks old. You can see it in twins; one will be more dominant, while the other is willing to hang back and let the sib take the lead; and so on
OrWhatever · 26-30, M
By "personalities," I just meant the way that they are. I'll never make the mistake of using that word in the wrong context ever again.
Serenitree
Still have choices. Even if your character is set early in life, you are still responsible for the choices you make later in life.
OrWhatever · 26-30, M
How are you responsible? What is the rationale behind that belief?
phoeislost
Well personality type factors in to the choices people make but not completely. And personality isn't chosen but it isn't completely inherent either. There is no black and white like that in life, think about it. People with very similar personalities can make extremely different choices in life, just look around.
OrWhatever · 26-30, M
People with very similar personalities make extremely different choices because they're not the exact same person, existing in the exact same place, at the exact same time. I don't understand the point you're trying to make.
phoeislost
Did you just contradict yourself in an attempt to contradict me? I don't really understand the point you're trying to make.
OrWhatever · 26-30, M
Well, from my perspective it doesn't seem like I contradicted myself, but maybe I did. :) I just don't understand what you were trying to convey with the similar personalities thing.