Behind the scenes: These perfectly good sections were cut to meet the length requirement before submitting the version which was ultimately accepted and published by the Missouri Review.
Really enjoyed this. The point about indeterminacy seems especially important: randomness can't rescue free will. If my action is completely caused, I didn't ultimately author those causes; if some element is random, I didn't author the randomness either.
Hi Matt Ball, Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it. You’ll enjoy my other stuff even more, because these were just relatively unpolished fragments from the cutting room floor. Check out my essay “Sleepwalking Towards Bethlehem,” my essay on the genealogy of happiness, oh, and my thing on the ancient Greeks having no concept of free will because they had no concept of will…. Please reply with a link to something of yours that you’d like me to read. :-)
Oh good. I'm glad you liked the police survivor benefits essay fragment. I was worried it might not hold together or be convincing. I think it was a real epiphany though! And true! Thanks again
For one, it matters what the folk think because the folk vote. And the majority of voters are “folk.” The light be winnable though, and shown the pure obscenity of holding people morally blame and praiseworthy.
We just don’t like each other. That’s real, and a problem. Moral blame and praise is an aesthetic judgment masquerading as an ethical one.
Really enjoyed this. The point about indeterminacy seems especially important: randomness can't rescue free will. If my action is completely caused, I didn't ultimately author those causes; if some element is random, I didn't author the randomness either.
Hi Matt Ball, Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it. You’ll enjoy my other stuff even more, because these were just relatively unpolished fragments from the cutting room floor. Check out my essay “Sleepwalking Towards Bethlehem,” my essay on the genealogy of happiness, oh, and my thing on the ancient Greeks having no concept of free will because they had no concept of will…. Please reply with a link to something of yours that you’d like me to read. :-)
Awesome - I just finished commenting on "Sleepwalking." I'll look for the genealogy piece next. Thanks so much!
PS - I loved your recent police piece - was telling Anne about it.
Oh good. I'm glad you liked the police survivor benefits essay fragment. I was worried it might not hold together or be convincing. I think it was a real epiphany though! And true! Thanks again
Beautiful. I enjoyed this.
For one, it matters what the folk think because the folk vote. And the majority of voters are “folk.” The light be winnable though, and shown the pure obscenity of holding people morally blame and praiseworthy.
We just don’t like each other. That’s real, and a problem. Moral blame and praise is an aesthetic judgment masquerading as an ethical one.