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It's important. Not quite as important as you're making it, though. Parents (or whoever raises us) sets the "default settings" for our life. It's what we thi

It's important. Not quite as important as you're making it, though. Parents (or whoever raises us) sets the "default settings" for our life. It's what we think "normal" is. But we aren't robots rolling off an assembly line. We can change those settings away from the default. This is one of the most important choices for young adults - what are you going to keep from your parents, and what are you going to change? But yes, given a culture with set of beliefs, the majority of the next generation is going to keep those default settings as their own.

lapcat 3y ago
> Not quite as important as you're making it, though. > But yes, given a culture with set of beliefs, the majority of the next generation is going to keep those default settings as their own. That seems quite important to me. > But we aren't robots rolling off an assembly line. Correct. Human genetics entails that children are not exact duplicates of their parents. Even "identical" twins are not 100% identical with their siblings. However... > We can change those settings away from the default. This is one of the most important choices for young adults - what are you going to keep from your parents, and what are you going to change? I'd say there are two general competing theories of human behavior: 1) It's a combination of "nature" and "nurture". 2) It's a combination of "nature", "nurture", and "free will". I don't believe in the philosophical/religious notion of free will. Thus, I don't put much ethical significance on the concept of "choice". As a practical matter, yes, some kids choose to go against the teachings of their family, friends, and community. Some people are naturally iconoclasts; you might say they're born into that role. But I don't think that makes them "better" people, just different. You can't choose your genes or environment any more than you can choose your parents. You don't choose to be born with a disability, right? Likewise, you don't choose to be born with a special ability either.

lapcat 3y ago

> Not quite as important as you're making it, though. > But yes, given a culture with set of beliefs, the majority of the next generation is going to keep those default settings as their own. That seems quite important to me. > But we aren't robots rolling off an assembly line. Correct. Human genetics entails that children are not exact duplicates of their parents. Even "identical" twins are not 100% identical with their siblings. However... > We can change those settings away from the default. This is one of the most important choices for young adults - what are you going to keep from your parents, and what are you going to change? I'd say there are two general competing theories of human behavior: 1) It's a combination of "nature" and "nurture". 2) It's a combination of "nature", "nurture", and "free will". I don't believe in the philosophical/religious notion of free will. Thus, I don't put much ethical significance on the concept of "choice". As a practical matter, yes, some kids choose to go against the teachings of their family, friends, and community. Some people are naturally iconoclasts; you might say they're born into that role. But I don't think that makes them "better" people, just different. You can't choose your genes or environment any more than you can choose your parents. You don't choose to be born with a disability, right? Likewise, you don't choose to be born with a special ability either.