7.18.11

In chapter two, Dennet builds a very simplified working example of evolution with the emphasis on avoiding harm and then works his way to explaining the difference between inevitable and determinism.  For many people, including myself, grouping them together does not seem like a miscue.  In fact, it seems rather like a rather basic proposition— at least when speaking of free will.  Dennet would have us believe otherwise.  It is not inevitable that an owl will always catch a field mouse.  Over time they have both evolved and certain generations of field mice have grown very well equipped at avoiding instances when they might be caught by mice.  That does not mean that they always avoid it the owl, but it does show that they are not determined to be eaten at every instance.  In this crude example, evitability, as Dennet re-coins it, and determinism can work hand in hand.

Chapter Two is a long set-up for Chapter Three which seems to be a long set-up for the next chapters or so, but Dennet begins to work at explaining what I would assume to be a pillar to his overall argument.  That is that the way we think about determinism and free-will as well as the way we may think of the two in our everyday lives are misguided.  Once I finish Three I will get on here and update some more.  Hopefully I can move through this books quickly as right now it really isn’t “doing it” for me.