No. Everything in this life–bad things included–is temporary, yet, they aren’t deceptive or illusory. Good things are, however, because they lead me to believe that I possess qualities that I do not. When good things happen to me, it’s usually not because I did anything to merit such things, rather, they’re the result of pure odds.
Well here’s the thing; plenty of bad things are a result of chance, more so than you might think. Getting splashed by a car driving over a roadside puddle. Getting pulled over by the police. Getting robbed for walking down a certain street. Having to be served by poorly-skilled service workers, and the list goes on.
But for me, and other people in my predicament, my misfortunes stem from my disposition and my agency. If you believe that we all lack free will, then my disposition and my agency are the result of chance and by extension, so is my suffering. In this sense, my misfortune stems from well… bad odds. But bad odds that reappear consistently–enough for me to believe that these aren’t just odds.
But if you believe that we all have free will and that we’re free to make whatever choices we want at any time and that these choices play essential roles in determining who we become, then my suffering–which stems from said disposition and agency–is very much self-inflicted misfortune that is the byproduct of my inability to fit in with society.
Although I think that in either case, free-will or lack thereof, the result is still the same; an individual that doesn’t belong to society by virtue of his comprehensive and seemingly contradictive characteristics.
Again, thanks for the insight and the really in depth answer, especially because these are thoughts I’ve had too and it’s really cool to see someone else put them in words like that.
One thing I can say for comfort is that, contrary to what we’re always told, people aren’t ever really internally consistent. If you feel like a walking contradiction, that could be simply because you’re human. Not to invalidate or dismiss your concerns or anything. I just thought you could benefit from knowing that, from what I can see at least, you’re far from a freak.
But I also think that if you knew me better, then perhaps you’d understand the extent to which I’m a contradiction is somewhat extreme. Nonetheless, thank you for your kind words.
7 comments
Is it because they’re temporary?
No. Everything in this life–bad things included–is temporary, yet, they aren’t deceptive or illusory. Good things are, however, because they lead me to believe that I possess qualities that I do not. When good things happen to me, it’s usually not because I did anything to merit such things, rather, they’re the result of pure odds.
Well, that is a very good explanation. Thanks for clearing that up.
But if good things only happen to you because of the luck of the draw, then why aren’t bad things also just chance?
Well here’s the thing; plenty of bad things are a result of chance, more so than you might think. Getting splashed by a car driving over a roadside puddle. Getting pulled over by the police. Getting robbed for walking down a certain street. Having to be served by poorly-skilled service workers, and the list goes on.
But for me, and other people in my predicament, my misfortunes stem from my disposition and my agency. If you believe that we all lack free will, then my disposition and my agency are the result of chance and by extension, so is my suffering. In this sense, my misfortune stems from well… bad odds. But bad odds that reappear consistently–enough for me to believe that these aren’t just odds.
But if you believe that we all have free will and that we’re free to make whatever choices we want at any time and that these choices play essential roles in determining who we become, then my suffering–which stems from said disposition and agency–is very much self-inflicted misfortune that is the byproduct of my inability to fit in with society.
Although I think that in either case, free-will or lack thereof, the result is still the same; an individual that doesn’t belong to society by virtue of his comprehensive and seemingly contradictive characteristics.
Again, thanks for the insight and the really in depth answer, especially because these are thoughts I’ve had too and it’s really cool to see someone else put them in words like that.
One thing I can say for comfort is that, contrary to what we’re always told, people aren’t ever really internally consistent. If you feel like a walking contradiction, that could be simply because you’re human. Not to invalidate or dismiss your concerns or anything. I just thought you could benefit from knowing that, from what I can see at least, you’re far from a freak.
I’m glad I could provide some comfort to someone.
But I also think that if you knew me better, then perhaps you’d understand the extent to which I’m a contradiction is somewhat extreme. Nonetheless, thank you for your kind words.
Well, I can understand that. Some people contradict themselves more than the average person.