tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241684761340467690.post1878617511593894425..comments2022-12-11T04:55:14.695-07:00Comments on Zen Naturalism: All Beings Are Without Blame (Part Four)Poep Sa Frank Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609272991412471770noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241684761340467690.post-64821380738733098942012-07-13T14:29:57.757-07:002012-07-13T14:29:57.757-07:00Hey Carol!
Nice to "see" you here. I d...Hey Carol!<br /><br />Nice to "see" you here. I don't know if you've been following this string of postings (if not, your questions may actually be answered by doing so) but short response:<br /><br />First: from buddhist and naturalist perspective, we must be clear that whatever 'free will' be are discussing is NOT a-causal, non-contingent free will. Such an absolute free will requires a super-natural entity (a 'soul') that is completely independent of any and all 'circumstances.'<br /><br />Second: I am arguing that "moral responsibility" only makes sense if there is such an entity as a 'soul.' The idea that someone could have done otherwise than what they have done regardless of all conditioning factors is the basis of moral responsibility.<br /><br />Third: When we assume "moral responsibility," then we get the kind of retributive/punitive justice system we have: we punish those who do 'evil' and praise those who do 'good.'<br /><br />Fourth: My argument is that when we jettison "moral responsibility," we are forced to have do deal with the circumstances that lead folk to behave as they do. Our justice system would be restorative and preventative. <br /><br />Finally: Precepts in buddhism are ethical TRAININGS that help create the conditions for more compassionate, wise, 'good' choices. They become part of the circumstances. If through training, I now become a more compassionate, skillful person, that is wonderful, but there is no "being" ultimately morally responsible for acting so.Poep Sa Frank Judehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13609272991412471770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1241684761340467690.post-64712518092601731922012-07-13T13:35:55.663-07:002012-07-13T13:35:55.663-07:00Very interesting. The critique of our simplistic c...Very interesting. The critique of our simplistic conception of free will is very compelling. I'm uncomfortable, however, with jettisoning the idea of moral responsibility altogether. If inner and outer circumstances combine to make something like "free will" a real possibility, then isn't ethical direction at that point more important than ever? Is "moral responsibility" the same or different as "ethical commitments" in the sense that you are using the term? Obviously, ethics are important in the yoga tradition; how do they fit into this discussion?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06954595575931726418noreply@blogger.com