The Good Place
Nov. 10th, 2018 12:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatIn an attempt to distract myself from real life events that I can't do anything about (no not politics -- which I've been avoiding for different reasons), I watched the Good Place and tooled across social media.
The Good Place -- the episode explores the "free will vs. determinism" debate...I rather enjoyed the episode. Even if it wasn't all that funny or rather I didn't find it funny, I'm sure other people did. We've already discussed how my sense of humor is well...a bit odd.
After talking Michael into showing all the clips of Chidi and her falling in love...Eleanor decides that Michael manipulated her into falling in love with Chidi. This perplexes Michael, because truthfully he didn't want them to fall in love -- he was trying to torture them, it was sort of the opposite of his intent.
So they have this extended argument over Free Will vs. Determinism, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Because I've lost count of the number of times I've had this argument with people claiming there's no such thing as free will and how environmental and genetic factors, or if they aren't atheist, a higher being, determines all their actions. It's an annoying argument that often goes in a circle, because you are basically arguing with someone's deep-seated beliefs and there's no logic to be had. I really wish I'd done what Michael did to Eleanor and just dumped a glass of ice tea on their head. Next time, I'm definitely taking that approach.
The determinists basically don't like taking responsibility for anything. The problem with "free will" is it means when you screw up royally, you have to live with the consequences of what "you" did. It's a whole lot easier to turn the blame hose on to someone else. Much harder to take responsibility for it, yourself.
And we live in an age of "deterministic" theory, where people are constantly blaming outside factors for their own actions. We're also lead by leaders who are blaming outside people for their actions and refuse to take responsibility for their own choices.
Eleanor also couldn't handle the idea of love...that she had fallen in love and then lost it. But it had happened.
Michael and Eleanor meanwhile are focusing their efforts on the wrong thing -- being bold, finding the best person ever...to either help or emulate, to ensure a get out of jail free card. But no such thing exists.
And the devil has now figured out how to get to earth and stop them. Michael upset the balance, and that has opened a door of sorts for the Devil and his kin to enter our world. Although I have to say that I prefer his demonic associate for this trip better than the last one.
The Good Place -- the episode explores the "free will vs. determinism" debate...I rather enjoyed the episode. Even if it wasn't all that funny or rather I didn't find it funny, I'm sure other people did. We've already discussed how my sense of humor is well...a bit odd.
After talking Michael into showing all the clips of Chidi and her falling in love...Eleanor decides that Michael manipulated her into falling in love with Chidi. This perplexes Michael, because truthfully he didn't want them to fall in love -- he was trying to torture them, it was sort of the opposite of his intent.
So they have this extended argument over Free Will vs. Determinism, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Because I've lost count of the number of times I've had this argument with people claiming there's no such thing as free will and how environmental and genetic factors, or if they aren't atheist, a higher being, determines all their actions. It's an annoying argument that often goes in a circle, because you are basically arguing with someone's deep-seated beliefs and there's no logic to be had. I really wish I'd done what Michael did to Eleanor and just dumped a glass of ice tea on their head. Next time, I'm definitely taking that approach.
The determinists basically don't like taking responsibility for anything. The problem with "free will" is it means when you screw up royally, you have to live with the consequences of what "you" did. It's a whole lot easier to turn the blame hose on to someone else. Much harder to take responsibility for it, yourself.
And we live in an age of "deterministic" theory, where people are constantly blaming outside factors for their own actions. We're also lead by leaders who are blaming outside people for their actions and refuse to take responsibility for their own choices.
Eleanor also couldn't handle the idea of love...that she had fallen in love and then lost it. But it had happened.
Michael and Eleanor meanwhile are focusing their efforts on the wrong thing -- being bold, finding the best person ever...to either help or emulate, to ensure a get out of jail free card. But no such thing exists.
And the devil has now figured out how to get to earth and stop them. Michael upset the balance, and that has opened a door of sorts for the Devil and his kin to enter our world. Although I have to say that I prefer his demonic associate for this trip better than the last one.