Achaean News
Lions and Free Will
Written by: Black Sheep of the Family, Liu Nakanishi-Lena-Campbell
Date: Friday, January 16th, 2004
Addressed to: Minion Probare, Buhawi ng-Kamatayan, of the Tanjinn
"since he cannot eat any of the plants his prey lived on"
Indeed, a lion -may- eat the plants, but that was not Covenant's point.
The lion is not able to digest the plant matter properly, and therefore
would derive no real nutritional benefits from doing so, even if it were
able to eat the plants in the first place, (unlikely, as the lion's
teeth are made for ripping and tearing the flesh of its prey apart, not
grinding fibrous plant material as most of its prey does).
Indeed. We do have our own free will, but as many have stated, this is
because of our intellect. We can choose, through learning from texts,
observation or experience what is 'right' and 'wrong'. That is what the
baby is doing when it is being punished by its parents for taking food
from its brother. It is -learning-, and learning involves understanding.
It will later understand that taking food from its brother deprives its
brother of that food, and the parents are partially to thank for this.
The baby doesn't know that what it is doing is wrong, and by teaching
it, the baby's intellect takes on the knowledge.
Animals, however, do not have this conscious thought, or free will. Yes,
a dog will learn that taking food from its master is bad, but only
because it is kicked or berated. The dog has no real understanding of
the moral position of its action, only that doing the action will cause
pain or loud, uncomfortable noises. In the same way, the lion will
choose not to attack the elephant because it has no desire to be beaten.
It does not think about whether attacking the elephant would be causing
it pain or suffering, only that it would get hurt in the process.
Nature contains elements that some would consider good, and some would
consider evil. But in Herself, She is neither of these. They are human
concepts, not applicable to the instinctual life that creatures and
plants lead.
Oh, and... I think Covenant would know something about Nature, being the
head of two forestal organisations and having studied, protected and
tended to Her all of his life.
Penned by my hand on the 5th of Ero, in the year 354 AF.
Lions and Free Will
Written by: Black Sheep of the Family, Liu Nakanishi-Lena-Campbell
Date: Friday, January 16th, 2004
Addressed to: Minion Probare, Buhawi ng-Kamatayan, of the Tanjinn
"since he cannot eat any of the plants his prey lived on"
Indeed, a lion -may- eat the plants, but that was not Covenant's point.
The lion is not able to digest the plant matter properly, and therefore
would derive no real nutritional benefits from doing so, even if it were
able to eat the plants in the first place, (unlikely, as the lion's
teeth are made for ripping and tearing the flesh of its prey apart, not
grinding fibrous plant material as most of its prey does).
Indeed. We do have our own free will, but as many have stated, this is
because of our intellect. We can choose, through learning from texts,
observation or experience what is 'right' and 'wrong'. That is what the
baby is doing when it is being punished by its parents for taking food
from its brother. It is -learning-, and learning involves understanding.
It will later understand that taking food from its brother deprives its
brother of that food, and the parents are partially to thank for this.
The baby doesn't know that what it is doing is wrong, and by teaching
it, the baby's intellect takes on the knowledge.
Animals, however, do not have this conscious thought, or free will. Yes,
a dog will learn that taking food from its master is bad, but only
because it is kicked or berated. The dog has no real understanding of
the moral position of its action, only that doing the action will cause
pain or loud, uncomfortable noises. In the same way, the lion will
choose not to attack the elephant because it has no desire to be beaten.
It does not think about whether attacking the elephant would be causing
it pain or suffering, only that it would get hurt in the process.
Nature contains elements that some would consider good, and some would
consider evil. But in Herself, She is neither of these. They are human
concepts, not applicable to the instinctual life that creatures and
plants lead.
Oh, and... I think Covenant would know something about Nature, being the
head of two forestal organisations and having studied, protected and
tended to Her all of his life.
Penned by my hand on the 5th of Ero, in the year 354 AF.