Maya Bolden

October 15, 2012

Philosophy
Weaving Life
It was a sunny afternoon in a suburban neighborhood. The neighborhood was very quiet save for
people moving from place to place. One of the houses in the neighborhood was owned by an old
woman named Shirley. She had two friends named Petunia and Marie that came over to her
house every afternoon to perform some weaving. They weaved various items together for fun as
they indulged in conversation. Today was no exception. However, what made today interesting
was the conversation matter. It all started when Petunia began to mention a book which she read
recently.
Petunia: Have you two been reading anything lately? Recently Ive read a book called Beyond
Freedom and Dignity by B. F. Skinner. It discusses the idea of determinism. Personally I am
agreeing with the determinists. When you really think about it, everything that we do is
connected to an event that has occurred or a part in our lives we cannot change. Its a potentially
depressing thought, but it is true. Skinner states an example of a man going to the theater. If we
were to ask the man why he went, then he would probably reply I felt like going. Thats where
people stop asking questions and just accept the answer. However, if we were to ask about his
past in relation to the theater, we would probably find a time where maybe him and his father
went there for the first time or he went as a baby or some past event that would help to justify
such behavior.
Marie: I dont know if I believe this, Petunia. I very much believe in free will. The past cannot
explain everything, and not everything is determined ahead of time. Are you saying it was pre-
determined that Bob from Accounting got into a car crash, or that Roselina Scottland won one
hundred million dollars from the lottery? In the lottery scenario, if Roselina didnt choose to get
Maya Bolden
October 15, 2012
Philosophy
a lottery ticket, she wouldnt have won. She has probably never won anything from that lottery
either, and it is rare for a winner to be closely related to another winner. She might not even buy
tickets regularly and that day decided to buy one from the store she was in. There is no way such
an event could be determined beforehand.
Petunia: However, Roselina could have saw a newspaper mentioning a lottery winner or a
commercial encouraging people to participate in the lottery and have thus been influenced in that
manner. Also, Bobs car mightve needed repairs he was putting off or he mightve pulled a stunt
that he shouldve learned not to do in drivers education, but thanks to habits he did so anyway.
See?
Marie: Im still not quite convinced. Sure environment and past experiences do have some
impact, but ultimately it is people that make choices. As the book Mans Search For Meaning
notes, every man and woman has the ability to stand up against his or her conditions or he or she
can choose to bend to them. Humans do not simply exist; they decide how their own existence
will be. A human being is not one thing among others; things determine each other, but man is
ultimately self-determining. What he becomes within the limits of endowment and
environment he has made out of himself. The author was a concentration camp survivor, and
he used that experience as an example to such. However, when you really think about it, it is
applicable to other situations as well. Why is it that two people born from the same abusive
household do not come out the same way? There are many cases where one abused child
becomes a criminal and the other a doctor. So many stories are released of successful people who
originally were at the bottom of the ladder, yet you look at those same bad environments and see
that there are other folks there who havent nearly reached such success! Are you trying to say a
Maya Bolden
October 15, 2012
Philosophy
form of higher power decides to mess with peoples lives, or does everyone mess with his or her
own life?
Petunia: Being able to choose is not necessarily free will. With every choice, there is an inner
motive that drives a person to pick A instead of B. This motive cannot be fully controlled and is
not created by the person. It is like a child reaching out and touching the stove while its on, or a
woman driving way beyond the speed limit. There is a motive, and it drives humans into
performing certain actions and making certain choices. Therefore any behavior exhibited within
a condition is in fact a choice, but then with choice comes motive. However, this does not mean
we arent responsible for what happens. Our lives are determined, but then we must also take
responsibility for our choices and our actions. Many people throw their hands up when they
made a bad choice and blame another factor or person; this is acting in bad faith. One should at
least own up to his or her own decision. Now Shirley, youve been awfully quiet this whole time.
Who do you think is right?
Shirley: Neither and both. (Shows the other girls a long woven mat they had all created together)
Determinism, free will, and chance all exists under one banner. Within this mat, there are bars
which build a structure; this structure cannot be changed and exists throughout the mat. This is
determinism. After all, is it not true that we are incapable of choosing where we were born, how
we were born, and who we were born to? We also are unable to determine for ourselves what our
early years as an infant will be like. The threads in this mat are free will. Notice how different
the parts where Petunia weaves are from where Marie weaves? Petunia is quicker and rougher in
her method of weaving; Marie is slower and gentler in her method of weaving. My weaving style
is also different from the two of yours. The threads of life are woven by people in whatever way
they desire. Now, how it hits the bar is chance. A person can either stand or fall; a thread can
Maya Bolden
October 15, 2012
Philosophy
either hit the bar perfectly or go off track. This happens a lot in real life to people. What you
ladies should read is Moby Dick. The chapter of Moby Dick known as The Matmaker along with
readings from both sides of the argument has helped to mold my opinion on the subject manner.
Marie: What an interesting stance to take, Shirley!
Petunia: It looks like I have more reading to do.
With that, the discussion on free will and determinism ended as the women continued on with
other topics with the little time they had left.