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From: rap@oliven.UUCP (Robert A. Pease)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Emotions and choice
Message-ID: <385@oliven.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 2-Aug-85 19:45:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: oliven.385
Posted: Fri Aug  2 19:45:56 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 4-Aug-85 08:27:23 EDT
References: <5557@cbscc.UUCP> <ihlpg.816> <591@unc.UUCP>
Organization: Olivetti ATC; Cupertino, Ca
Lines: 37

> You're absolutely right about treating and helping such a person, but you're
> forgetting one thing.  You state quite clearly that the treatment must make
> the person aware of the beliefs he/she has and must make them aware that
> they CAN choose other, better ways of reacting.  The very fact that they ARE
> *UNAWARE* of the impact of those beliefs AND of the opportunity to make
> other choices means that they are NOT in any sense reacting through choice.
> Since choice implies selecting from alternatives, if one is not aware of
> an alternative, it is not within the realm of possibilities of choice.

Woah, just hold the fort right there.  Lets take a moment to take some
of  our  own medicine.  You tell me right now HOW being unaware of the
possibilities of a  choice  prohibits  choice.  I  know  exactly  what
you're  saying above.  Its the same argument to which the response is,
"ignorance of the law is no excuse."

Wether or not you are aware you've made a choice, you  have.  Even  if
it  is  to  go along with what you have learned in life so far and not
question it.  Even deciding not to make the choice is a choice.

> (I do agree completely about the possibilities of other choices, but, contrary
> to the turn this discussion has been taking, one cannot be considered
> responsible for things like emotions until one is aware of the possibilities
> of controlling them.)

Again, even if you weren't aware of the possibilities, who else could
possibly be responsible but you?

> Life is complex.  It has real and imaginary parts.
> 					Rich Rosen  ihnp4!pyuxd!rlr

Just means that we need complex algorithms to process it. :-)

						See ya all after vacation,
-- 

					Robert A. Pease
    {hplabs|zehntel|fortune|ios|tolerant|allegra|tymix}!oliveb!oliven!rap