• Name: Philosophy - Beginners Guide
• Author: Peter Cave
• Type: #literature/book
• Source: #source/book
• Link: Goodreads
• Annotation:

Notes¶

Reading this book has made me feel stupid, good stupid. I have to read and re-read concepts many times to understand what they actually mean.

What makes me me?¶

If I cut my hand off, am I still me? Both hands? Both hands and a foot? Where does it stop? Where do I reside within my body? Am I any single part of my physical self? Am I my mind? If my mind was in another body, will I still be me?

Do we have free will?¶

Are we controlled through scientific determinism (everything we do is in response to things that have happened before us) or do we have full control of our bodies and minds?

I love this thought, because again it points to the question of what makes me me? Does it retract from who I am if I have to admit that I only know what I do today because of smart people that existed before me? Where is the line drawn between the people before me and me? I am only because others are.

I am also biology and endless hours of conditioning. Which means I am influenced by factors that I do not always even know exist.

The book defines free will as "being able to choose differently".