Sir Darius the Clairvoyent Posted February 10, 2024 (edited) I am an determinist. Since the cosmos and all that have happened, is happening and will happen are depended on each other and the law of cause and effect, I think it is safe to assume that we have exactly zero agency. Both in norse, greek and roman mythology, we find the fates: three women who decide your life, your destiny, before you were born. «There are exactly three of them, and their names suggest their ability to construct the content of time: one is Urd (Old Norse Urðr, “The Past,” and a common word for fate in and of itself), the second Verdandi (Old Norse Verðandi, “What Is Presently Coming into Being”) and the third Skuld (Old Norse Skuld, “What Shall Be”). They live in a hall by a well (Urðarbrunnr, “Well of Fate”) beneath Yggdrasil, the mighty tree at the center of the Norse otherworld, which holds the Nine Worlds in its branches and roots.[2]» https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/others/the-norns/ This standa in contrast to the abrahamic faiths, where heaven and hell is based on what you choose, and theologians agree that «the problem of evil» is answered by God giving humans free will. Instead of seing determinisim as something depressive, I find it immensly liberating and interresting. For one thing, there is no room for guilt, since… it was going to happen regardless. Secondly, as I heard in an interview by Yuval Noah Harari, it can open the door for self discovery, because you become an observer of yourself, and not an active agent. Thoughts? Does your tradition take a stance on free will vs. determinism? Edited February 10, 2024 by NaturaNaturans Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
