Evolution and Specialness of Humanity

I've long since thought that it would be worthwhile if we were able to attach a background musical track to accompany our posts. Your post brings that idea to the fore again.One isn't sure whether the it should a frontier-blazing rendition of The Valkyrie or a bootleg-version of the Sex Pistols 'Anarchy in the UK"I wonder how strongly you would hold to the validity of this approach if my 'meaning' involves me stepping from behind the curtain in your living room and robbing your stereo at gunpoint...

Listen buddy, this is a Colt 45 I've got pointed at you. I ain't got time to jaw. Well okay then - just a for a minute...Choice not constraint free?. Indeed it is not. But as few constraints as I can gat away with is my entitlement under the system you recommend. Self-defined meaning? I would prefer to spend my time and cunning planning robberies in a way that ensures maximum return and minimum amount of time behind bars (and it's not all that difficult) Spending time worrying about morality won't pay for the condo I have my eye on..My meaning - get your kicks where you can and don't let any other try to stop me.You may disagree with it, your 'meaning' can try and stop me. Your havwe that right under your system. But surely your system of meaning as self-defined cannot require my meaning to be externally (to me) defined (..by you and your like minded buddies). You said IIRC external source of meaning was destroyed.Now quit arguing and hand over the stereo will ya...

I don't know the chap but I'll take your word for it. But whats with this 'wise' stuff. Surely that's self-defined too - seeing as we're dumping the external and going internal. This has nothing to do with morality Mr. Soon-to-be an-stereo-ex-owner. You were saying we can define our own meaning. I'm doing that and your implying now that I should adhere to some absolute, external thing called "the dog in the street knows it wisdom"Is my wisdom not as valid as your wisdom? I'll parasite off society and their stereos for as long as I want/can but I don't give a monkeys for it's wisdom or morality.My way is as valid to me as your way is to you. You do agree don't you?

Good idea. Maybe I'll get Ben to play that as the last track he'll hear on his stereo and ask "what's the problem" He sure is forgetting I'm the one with the Colt 45I fear though for him its going to be "My way or the highway"

BenI'll make a few last points, aimed primarily at prophex, then bugger off...Your encouraging someone to be brave and join you and others on self-determined journey. That you don't see problems with it but seem to suggest this is perfectly reasonable and well thought out - as if by saying so means its a given - doesn't change that fact its only your relative view.You immediately however impose some rules and regs on what constitutes acceptable self-determining, ie: quickly revert to assumed absolute externals with words such as "wisdom" and "ridiculous" and "self-destructive". Like hippies in the 60's, who needed society to function in order to support them while they 'dropped out' from it, this self-determinism attaches itself to the very external moorings it debunks in order to have the luxury to express itself.Me and my Colt 45, we're not seen as valid. That my illustrative 'self-determinism' is not of the intellectual variety which is the external boundary inside which your rules are shaped indicates that prophex is being invited, not to self-determine, but to join a club. Not self-determinism - but external determinism of different brand. Pseudo self-determinism in other words.Self-determinism means what is says and all views are validated only by having the person concerned holding them. Self-determinism isn't validated by anothers agreement. And if you don't agree with me then...Bang! - your dead.