Socratic_Conversation

A Conversation with Socrates American Intercontinental University A Conversation with Socrates While doing research for my philosophy paper I became confused and found myself asking far more questions than I was answering. I decided to take a break from my homework and try to relax. While listening to some music I dozed off for a much deserved nap and had a dream that I was having a conversation with Socrates. The dream went as follows: Socrates: What is it to make excuses for your actions Beth' Beth: That would be determinism sir. Socrates: ...really, hmmmm. Why do you say determinism makes excuses' Beth: Because kind sir, determinism is the doctrine that says all actions committed by humans are set into motion by causes not of our own will. Socrates: I see. Then how do you define your own will Beth' Beth: Being able to act of my own will means that I have no constraints on what I choose. My own will is free and what I do with it is of my own doing, nothing more and nothing less. Socrates: So you take responsibility for how and who you have become' Beth: Yes sir, I do own my responsibility. Socrates: Do you feel that every action you take has an explanatory cause' Beth: What is that' Socrates: From my perspective it is when there is an obvious reason for what you do. Beth: Oh, thank you. I believe that sometimes there is an obvious reason for why I do something or how I feel towards something. Sometimes, however, I act out of nothingness with no reason. Socrates: How do you define these events' Beth: These events are like any other event in my life. They just happen, not always planned but happen none the less. Socrates: So you think these events just happen' Beth: Yes, events are just things that happen in our life that are sometimes planned but often unplanned. Socrates: Knowing all of this now, how would you define explanatory cause' Beth: I see where you get that it is an explainable or obvious trigger, but I still do not think every life event has an obvious cause. Socrates: So you would not agree that every event or choice we make has a cause such as what I have explained to you' Beth: No sir I would not agree with that statement. Socrates: But why' Why do you not think EVERY thing that happens has reason' Beth: I did not say that there is no reason, just that there is not always an obvious reason. Socrates: I see, I see. Then tell me, do you think that there is a difference between human choice and human events' Beth: Hmmm, I am not sure if I know what they each mean. If I do not know what each is, then how could I possibly know if they truly differ' Socrates: That is a wise observation let me clarify. Human choice is a subconscious choice made by the common human that has an effect on events. These events that are spurred by the choice is what I consider a human event. So now, do you feel that there is a difference between the two' Beth: Knowing now what they each mean, I see that they work together but are different. While one can cause the other they are each different in their own right. Socrates: So you do not see a choice as an event' Beth: Well asked in that manner I am not as certain with my response, bur I will hold to my belief that a choice can cause an event. Whether the process of making that choice is an event in itself I will need to ponder further. Socrates: I will accept that. Since you do not feel that events all have obvious reason, would you agree that have explanatory cause means not to be free' Beth: No I would not agree that to have explanatory cause would make one not free. Explanatory cause is just reason for our actions and behaviors; it does not strip us of the freedom to make those choices. Socrates: Oh, then will you tell me how you define free' Beth: Yes I would be glad to tell you my thoughts. To me, free is to not be under anyone's control but my own. Whether right or wrong we have the ability to do what we choose. Socrates: You have brought to my attention some powerful insight, but let me ask you this: can free will and determinism ever coexist' Beth: I do not believe so sir. Since determinism pushes the ideas that we have no control over what happens or how we react and free will is the idea that no matter what happens we all have a free choice, they can never coexist. While there will always be those who believe they have no choice and only follow fate, they will never convince those of us who know that we make our own decisions that they are correct. Socrates: So you do not feel that inside one's self they know what the right choice is yet on the outside they are forced to make a different choice that is not their own' Beth: In this my new friend, I see determinism and free will coexisting. You have shown me how it is possible to have an external determinism impede the process of our internal free will. I thank you for this enlightenment. Socrates: It has been a mutual enlightenment process; we have both looked further than our previous truths to find openness in new ones. Upon awakening from this dream I found myself refreshed and with less confusion. I finally had the clarity that we all crave in matters of knowledge. Many people find answers in prayer and in books while I found my answers from a conversation in a dream.