X-Message-Number: 1626
Date: 16 Jan 93 17:28:32 EST
From: MICHAEL RISKIN <>
Subject: CRYONICS: Responses and Initiations

          Steve Harris wrote that social courage is rarer than imagination
which in turn is rarer than  raw intelligence. Yes,probably, although I am
not as such aware of evidence to support that statement. Besides, it is
the proverbial "apples to oranges" hierarchal comparison. Social courage
is a characterological quality whereas imagination/intelligence are 
creative/cognitive  qualities. Other "is rarer than" (IRT) strings are:
*Social courage IRT Individual expression IRT individual Thought.
*Conceptual transcendence IRT creativity IRT imagination.
*Synthesis IRT thesis/antithesis IRT intelligence.
          On the other hand, free will , is partly defined by me as the 
human capability that enables the above qualities. In my imagination,
free will is actually the name we give to the observed output of the
"organ of free will". Just as  humans are born with a heart that has
a cardiac potential ,which will be more or less met ,to the degree  the
heart is encouraged to prosper, left to atrophy, or poisoned, I envision
a neurological structure, likely but not necessarily ,contained within
the brain.  This undiscovered organ (undiscovered of course because no
one knows where to look or has technology capable of "seeing it") is  with
us at birth with its own potential. For the purpose of this piece , let me
define free will  as  the relative ability to overcome the  precedent
nature/ nurture forces and produce something not subject to cause and
effect but rather something genuinely new and unpredictable.  
        So , with all of that to assume for now, this organ can be
encouraged or discouraged to maximize. And, some humans are born with
greater potential.  How do we teach cardiac wellness?. "Quit smoking,
exercise, eat less fat, ..." How can we encourage free will? Quit the
cult, exercise (allow ourselves,our children...to think the unthinkable,
defend the undefendable) , dont occlude the pathways, and mental quided
experiences that facilitate free willness. Maybe even medication.
Many years ago I envisioned the decision process as a subjectively
weighted moving average  of all prior knowledge on the subject at hand
factored by the free will force at the current moment.  
..............................................................................
                         Chucharillas
                             
                     hard
                     dark
                     painted chucharillas...

                     spiked
                     nailed
                     tight chucharillas...

                     oily and hot
                     nippled and firm
                     crawling
                     over
                     me.
                             mr 1988

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=1626