Comments on: Quote of the Day: The rational free choice http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/quote-of-the-day-the-rational-free-choice/ A Catholic Social Commentary Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:08:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Vilma http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/quote-of-the-day-the-rational-free-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-1446 Vilma Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:20:35 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=677#comment-1446 I just want to add that just because something is legalized, it does not make it right. Alot of people make the wrong decisions by using argument that ït's not illegal, so it must be ok". People need to stop making excuses for their mistakes and stop blaming lawmakers for their immorality. We are still free to make the rational decision-free from emotion. Thats my two cents..... I just want to add that just because something is legalized, it does not make it right. Alot of people make the wrong decisions by using argument that ït’s not illegal, so it must be ok”. People need to stop making excuses for their mistakes and stop blaming lawmakers for their immorality. We are still free to make the rational decision-free from emotion. Thats my two cents…..

]]> By: Matthew Warner http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/quote-of-the-day-the-rational-free-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-1439 Matthew Warner Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:48:31 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=677#comment-1439 Thanks for sharing, Kevin! I will try and check it out. Interesting stuff! Thanks for sharing, Kevin! I will try and check it out. Interesting stuff!

]]> By: Kevin Liner http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/quote-of-the-day-the-rational-free-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-1438 Kevin Liner Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:41:24 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=677#comment-1438 As I read that quote, I was reminded of a paper that I wrote some time ago on emotions. Aquinas holds (as your quote implies) that in order for a choice to be truly free, the person making it has to be free, which isn't the case when he is overpowered by his emotions. He gives the example of a person who is unable to study/learn when there is a pain which is distracting his attention. Because his mind's focus is on the pain, rather than the thing to be learned, he is unable to carry out the intellectual activity required in order to learn. If you're interested in reading the paper (I just did as a refresher ;), it's here: http://andfortoday.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/ordering-the-passions-with-virtue/ - it deals specifically with the virtues which are necessary in order to overcome emotional "bondage." Thanks for the reminder ;). As I read that quote, I was reminded of a paper that I wrote some time ago on emotions. Aquinas holds (as your quote implies) that in order for a choice to be truly free, the person making it has to be free, which isn’t the case when he is overpowered by his emotions. He gives the example of a person who is unable to study/learn when there is a pain which is distracting his attention. Because his mind’s focus is on the pain, rather than the thing to be learned, he is unable to carry out the intellectual activity required in order to learn. If you’re interested in reading the paper (I just did as a refresher ;), it’s here: http://andfortoday.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/ordering-the-passions-with-virtue/ – it deals specifically with the virtues which are necessary in order to overcome emotional “bondage.”

Thanks for the reminder ;).

]]> By: Karinann http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/quote-of-the-day-the-rational-free-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-1432 Karinann Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:07:53 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=677#comment-1432 I think our society today-at least secular society, tends to confuse freedom with license. There is a difference- license often = "do what I want." True freedom comes with a well formed conscience allowing us the freedom to do what is right and good. I think our society today-at least secular society, tends to confuse freedom with license. There is a difference- license often = “do what I want.” True freedom comes with a well formed conscience allowing us the freedom to do what is right and good.

]]> By: Steve J. Moore http://fallibleblogma.com/index.php/quote-of-the-day-the-rational-free-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-1431 Steve J. Moore Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:49:33 +0000 http://www.fallibleblogma.com/?p=677#comment-1431 I think the logic of the statement is apparent as you suggest. If you make a choice based on something other than reason, you are not acting out of free will, but a will bound by that other influence, be it emotion, suggestion, or otherwise. I think the logic of the statement is apparent as you suggest. If you make a choice based on something other than reason, you are not acting out of free will, but a will bound by that other influence, be it emotion, suggestion, or otherwise.

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