IDEAL RELIGION
AND
CHOICE

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Document status: August 13, 2003

Maintained out of interest

Outdated

No further action for Journey in Being

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CONTENTS

1 The one force

The one fundamental force in the universe

Choice

And one obstacle

Ignorance

And the opposite of ignorance is

Truth [not knowledge]

There seem to be two fundamental forces of being

“Forces”

Mechanism-Design

[Unfolding, blind] [Choice]

But Design includes unfolding and choice

Mechanism includes the “Forces”/unfolding for the physical,

Chemical, biological

2 Choice

What is it?

Alternative futures seem possible

Evaluate alternative futures according to effectively

Adaptive criteria [likelihood of survival, procreation,

Proliferation ... Enhanced], i.e., prioritize

Act to effect outcome - higher priority alternatives more

Likely as a result of action - perhaps

3 Problem of Choice

1. Is the universe mechanistic/deterministic

2. How is choice possible in a mechanistic universe

If what will happen will happen, how is choice possible

Origin of choice in a deterministic/materialistic universe is

Interesting even if the actual universe is not deterministic

AI approaches, cognitive theory [incomplete knowledge]/

Consciousness

But apparent choice may be part of materialism

3. Lack of choice does not follow from eternity being what it is [this is not determinism], but from “complete knowledge”. If I know all, I cannot really choose. But I do not know all

Problem of Mechanism

We can look at the problem the other way [recalling that being precedes description] ... If I know I have choice, how can materialism be the full truth ... The problem of choice is [perhaps] an irrational projection of materialism onto the universe

4 Truth

There is truth

When we admit limitation, for

The purpose of knowledge is not certainty

But living

Truth

What is truth?

What is right!

What is right?

What is?

All!

What is truth?

What is right!

What is right?

What is dependable!

For a free

Being all is dependable!

What is truth?

What is certain!

Consistent

Desire makes all certain!

What is absolute truth?

Exact knowledge!

Consistent

Perception makes knowledge exact!

Independent

With limitation

With need

PHILOSOPHY OF MIND