Oddbean

I just recorded another podcast episode of 21 Questions about prison & Bitcoin. The topic of locus of control came up a few times implicitly, and then I mentioned it explicitly, referencing one of Ray Dalio’s books. Question: Do you believe that you are responsible for the outcomes in your life? Is it the environment, or some mix of internal and external factors? #askstr #Nostr #GrowNostr

Well this is one of those I think probably the greatest and most philosophical question of the world is do we have free will Determinism VS free will argument and this is I think a deeply personal journey and how it is to see the world but I think ultimately the deterministic view of the world is one of pessimism and nihilism because if it is you that ultimately decides that the things that happen to you in the world are out of your control therefore You are just but a ship about the waves of the sea to be tossed in any general direction is I think to relinquish your capacity for agency over oneself. But I do not believe that the relinquishment of 1's agency could be a bad thing because one could argue that having the capacity to relinquish your agency to a higher calling say it religion God community movement etc Is one of the greatest forms of Submission that 1 could obtain because it is only through the submission of the greater calling of your goals whatever those may be and the focus that it requires of 12 achieve them that you can ultimately ascend to the higher escalons of enlightenment

You’ve just elevated the discussion to self-actualization! I like your take on determinism vs. free will… Indeed it is noble and fulfilling to surrender to something higher than oneself. In contrast, being knocked about in life without agency is, IMO, one of the worst things ever. I personally feel a sense of security when I have a clear goal in mind, and I work towards it consistently. It’s a form of surrender yet it also guides my choices so that I’m not “gallivanting” (nod to my pops for the expression) aimlessly.