Arbicontrary
I was just thinking about the nature of the choices made in living life and it struck me that although it is a good thing to try and make decisions to the best of your ability, even the best of decisions can lead to the worst of outcomes.
To paraphrase Tolkien, "not even the very wise can see all ends" and "all courses may run ill".
I don't think it's melodramatic to say that you could make the very best of choices and it could lead you in front of a bus. Well.. Maybe it's a little melodramatic, but the point stands.
Some of you are going to accuse me of nihilism, but I disagree. Even if you believe in god I don't believe you can say that choices aren't arbitrary. Because if you do believe in any form of deity, generally that belief is going to hold true to certain tenets (I think) that support my position:
- first of all, your deity of choice doesn't protect you from all that life can and will throw at you (and in many belief systems is actually more interested in your response than what happens - haven't got time to get into that one)
- second of all, unless you're the world's biggest idiot, it is not given that we, being limited creatures, could fully understand the will of a being who/which, by definition, is outside of all things (and in many belief systems apparently chooses, for whatever reason, to surround his/her/itself with mystery)
So. All told, with or without a higher purpose, it comes down to getting on with making choices, dealing with whatever arises and not beating yourself up about the choices you've made..
And ultimately I suppose, it doesn't matter how you go about making your choices. To the best of your ability, going with a gut feeling, using a magic 8-ball, prayer to a god or gods. It seems to me that most of the justification of decision making is about feeling better about your choices at the end of the day.
One final point to make is that, obviously, I'm talking about larger scale, vague choices like career path, where you live, what school you send your kids to. It's obvious that choosing not to eat today is going to lead to hunger.
A post with a definite message and conclusion. Something must be wrong.
overs and outs..
To paraphrase Tolkien, "not even the very wise can see all ends" and "all courses may run ill".
I don't think it's melodramatic to say that you could make the very best of choices and it could lead you in front of a bus. Well.. Maybe it's a little melodramatic, but the point stands.
Some of you are going to accuse me of nihilism, but I disagree. Even if you believe in god I don't believe you can say that choices aren't arbitrary. Because if you do believe in any form of deity, generally that belief is going to hold true to certain tenets (I think) that support my position:
- first of all, your deity of choice doesn't protect you from all that life can and will throw at you (and in many belief systems is actually more interested in your response than what happens - haven't got time to get into that one)
- second of all, unless you're the world's biggest idiot, it is not given that we, being limited creatures, could fully understand the will of a being who/which, by definition, is outside of all things (and in many belief systems apparently chooses, for whatever reason, to surround his/her/itself with mystery)
So. All told, with or without a higher purpose, it comes down to getting on with making choices, dealing with whatever arises and not beating yourself up about the choices you've made..
And ultimately I suppose, it doesn't matter how you go about making your choices. To the best of your ability, going with a gut feeling, using a magic 8-ball, prayer to a god or gods. It seems to me that most of the justification of decision making is about feeling better about your choices at the end of the day.
One final point to make is that, obviously, I'm talking about larger scale, vague choices like career path, where you live, what school you send your kids to. It's obvious that choosing not to eat today is going to lead to hunger.
A post with a definite message and conclusion. Something must be wrong.
overs and outs..
Are you saying that you don't believe that God offers any kind of guidance if you pray and ask Him?
Posted by
Mothervic |
October 15, 2009 7:13 PM
If you read closely, that's exactly what I'm not saying.
Posted by
tobiwan |
October 15, 2009 7:20 PM
I did a post quite similar to this on my Lazarus blog
Posted by
Sam Grover |
October 20, 2009 9:46 AM
It is similar, but I think I disagree with your point about macro and micro predestination as I don't think there's a sensible place where you can draw the line.
It's too analog to make a digital distinction, if you will..
I haven't thought that through fully though, so I could be wrong.
Posted by
tobiwan |
October 24, 2009 8:05 PM