Adding reason to faith

Philosophy is the field that builds the model, any model it wants to build, and then turns the model over and over in its hands as it examines the model.

Philosophy feels the model, applies the model, projects the model into the future, applies the model to the past, and theorizes what the model could do for the present.

Philosophy builds rules and laws based upon these theoretical models and then examines the results of just such laws and rules.

But it is one thing to build a model and another to build a model acceptable to individuals in society.

•

Confucianism implies laws and rules are necessary for an orderly society.

But Confucianism does not state what these rules and laws ought to be.

That is left up to us. By leaving this up to us, Confucianism implies we have the freedom and the free will to build the model of our choice.

End

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Dialogue with a Neo-Buddhist: Action versus inaction 0610 23o

by Daniel J. Shepard on Wed 25 Oct 2006 12:00 AM EDT

Dan;

061020

So let me ask you a few questions regarding ‘inaction’ my friend:

Are you suggesting:

One is not responsible for one does not do?

There are no consequences to what it is one decides not to do?

One’s actions affect ‘eternity’ (as you stated), however, one’ refusal to ‘act upon’ does not affect ‘eternity’?

djs

061021: cg

First, let me state that I do as you do though I would express it differently then you did:

Regarding actions I do not take of which I have not conscious awareness: Such actions have no affect upon my decision making which I control through the attribute of free will.

Regarding action I do not take of which I have conscious awareness: Such actions affect decision making enormously. Such actions cause me to pause and analyze before I actually act. Such actions lead me to ponder what the consequences of my not acting will have upon myself, upon others directly involved, upon those not directly involved or present, upon my existence after the physical.

And I am responsible for my actions; I acknowledge what I do. I can also acknowledge that I did not do that which was not what I did. For example, I did x. I can acknowledge that I did x and I can acknowledge that I did not do not-x.

061023

Djs: …you ‘chose’ not to do ‘x’ and as such you are responsible for ‘x’ not being done and in turn you are responsible for the repercussions generated by ‘x’ just as you are responsible for the repercussions generated by the actions you consciously choose to do.

061021: cg

There is one universe and like a river it constantly flows;…

061023

Djs: …just as a river is composed of the water, the river flows as ‘a’/one river because it is identifiable by its content – water and is defined by its banks. So too the universe flows and like the river it is identifiable but in the case of the universe it is identified by the flow of action and like the river the universe is defined its banks which in the case of the universe is built of inaction – passivity.

061021: cg

…the totality of this moment is the cause of the next moment. If the totality of this moment includes one’s refusal to do x, then that is part of the cause of the next moment, for eternity…

061023

Djs: Agreed

061021: cg

…So, you and I do the same thing when a decision arises, we consider a set of potential actions and select the one we think is the best.

061023

Djs: The sum total is the consequences of our actions plus the consequences of our inaction. Both are part of our free will.

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