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Describing human actions as either ‘under one’s control’ or ‘not’ is an oversimplified and inaccurate world view. I think the evidence suggests a different und
by xpe 5y ago
Describing human actions as either ‘under one’s control’ or ‘not’ is an oversimplified and inaccurate world view.
I think the evidence suggests a different understanding:
1. One individual’s willpower varies significantly over time (over a day for example)
2. One individual’s set of options varies in many ways — not limited to education, awareness, culture, economic opportunity, and luck.
3. Many important actions are not consciously decided.
This plays out in many ways.
Many individuals that achieve some kind of success mistakenly over-attribute it to hard work or intelligence —- and downplay the role of culture, opportunity, privilege, and luck.
- WalterBright 5y agoI understand that today it is popular to assert that people are just hapless victims of circumstance, that they don't have agency. I don't buy it. Furthermore, when people take responsibility for their lives, they tend to have much better outcomes. I'm old, and I've observed this play out constantly. Blaming others and circumstance might make one feel better, but it is completely useless. And lastly, successful treatment for addiction and alcoholism involves the person taking responsibility for the addiction.
- xpe 5y ago> I understand that today it is popular to assert that people are just hapless victims of circumstance, that they don't have agency. I didn't assert that.