Index 
Determinism Purpose Though there is no (teleological) purpose in or to life, including human, we can in a way say that things have no purpose. That is if we equate purpose and effect. For example: What is the purpose of dreams? Much had been said on this question. Answers are to process a day’s events; to fix events in memory; to work out mental conflicts, to confront our fears, to confront or release other negative emotions, etc. etc. But all of these are effects, not purposes. A purpose it seems is an effect as prescience. So it seems life has no purpose but has many effects. The main effect maybe being to help others, to gain wealth, to be happy, to please God; all the philosophers’ purposes. Some may be illusory, like to please God, others may be real (i.e actually occur for an instant at least, like gain wealth, help others or be happy). They are effects of short-term and long-term behavior patterns. This definition of purpose would fit well with the predestinarians because they propose that all is fordained, so “what will be, will be” and the prescience characteristic of “purpose” is fixed. I was raised a Prebyterian. So in effect purpose and effect are the same because the effect of the same as what is preordained, i.e. the purpose. Others who desire a broad overriding purpose in life may object. If purpose is really effect and no more, one has no purpose except “the acts of free will" (another essay), if it exists.  Jeff Martin Self Jeff Martin’s (Illinois Department of Corrections) job is to help me recognize my urges (particularly sexual) when they arise, to give me tools to recognize them, then give me the tools to suppress those urges or direct them to healthy outlets. That is the same as the “program” in Ohio, the goal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT. At deep levels, sexually, a man wants to conquer a woman and defeat rivals for the conquest. The woman wants to have babies, and protection from “things”. “Fucking someone means you love them” “Making love”. Then design drawings for a stepped pillow for leg support. |