jordantask

jordantask t1_j1ymjb9 wrote

Of course there is free will. As a product of my prior history, my “prior causes” as you put it make me often want to do things that I shouldn’t do, but I don’t do them as a conscious decision on my part.

If I acted on my impulses I’d have been in prison for a very long time.

The proof of free will lies not in doing what you want to do, but in the choice not to.

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jordantask t1_iy0a6mj wrote

Reminds me of when I bought a PlayStation 3 many years ago.

Went to a mall with Walmart and Toys R Us both, so I decided to comparison shop.

Went to Walmart. Huge “PRICE ROLLBACK” sign. $399.98.

Went to Toys R Us. $399.99.

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jordantask t1_ixig584 wrote

First of all, there was plenty of international trade going on, so a surprising number of people probably spoke multiple languages. Merchants in particular, as well as bureaucrats responsible for customs duties and tax collection probably spoke multiple languages.

Secondly, most rulers probably had multiple scribes who were each literate in multiple languages as well.

There were also probably common languages as well, most likely originated in the big empires. So, a lot of people probably spoke Greek, Latin, Egyptian, or Persian to some extent.

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