In Offense of Determinism (Poem)

2023 Note: Remember, even I, may be wrong. I never claimed omniscience. After realizing I was practicing sexual transmutation for the sake of Philosocom, I officially renounce my claims as asexual.

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Table of Contents

1. The Poem Itself.

2. Analysis by Mr. J. Igwe and Co.

   
   

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How delightful it is,

To believe that you are special,

As anyone else,

And not insignificant,

As anyone else.

That a clear, heavenly-planned path,

Has been decided for you,

And no possible choice on your behalf,

Could ever change it.

Even if you decide to take a knife,

And brutally kill your family,

That is also planned out,

Just as your decision,

To not do so at all.

"Everything is planned and the possibility is granted"

So say the sages of Judaism.

How can such thing be true,

When you are condemned by your immense liberty,

As Sartre would claim?

As if, you cannot alter your life,

Without any choice being already planned,

By a mysterious entity.

It is quite silly,

when you can decide your fate, to an extent,

and not said being.

Should that being want me in jail,

Why would I be there if I am to choose not to commit a crime?

Perhaps there are, indeed,

Choices bigger than divine will.

And still, most, if not all,

Seek to feel important,

As inferiority weakens our egos,

And depresses our will to live.

Thus, it would only be natural,

That some people will believe,

That the universe has a mind of its own,

Even just for the sake of feeling great,

In both mood and role,

As barely-influencial as it might be.

It feels great, to believe there is a greater frame,

Where every encounter, every day,

Is significant more than it seems to be,

But.. more than it actually is, perhaps?

That each ally is a star of destiny,

That each conflict has a clear result by the heavens,

That only a divine will,

Will decide who will win in whatever conflict,

One and their followers may encounter,

No matter how powerful either side may be.

In video games,

Rare are the cases where you fight to lose;

Which means --

You're supposed to prevail with each encounter,

You can also lose in.

If only reality was as simplistic as the virtual realm.

Does "money comes from divine authority"?

Do something not appealing in a job interview,

And you've blown it.

How, then, in the world,

Can divine will also have authority,

On the free will of its subjects?

If it has, then such "wills" are not free,

Which is too illogical to be true,

Since we already have freedom,

On many of our choices;

Choices unplanned by divinity.

In the end, at least as a man,

Only I can impregnate a woman.

No divine authority can force me to do so.

Thus, should the heavens have commanded me to be a family man,

They cannot execute their order,

Without my permission, my will.

(Isn't it great to be asexual?)

Thus, it would only be logical,

That there are some things that are greater,

Than the concept of legendary spirituality.

Analysis by Mr. J. Igwe and Co.

"In Offense of Determinism" is a poem that explores the philosophical tension between determinism and free will. Mr. Tomasio challenges the idea that every event and decision is predetermined by a higher, divine authority, as suggested by deterministic or religious doctrines. The poem engages with existentialist ideas, particularly those of Jean-Paul Sartre, to advocate for the reality and importance of human freedom and personal agency.

The central theme of the poem is a critique of determinism, the belief that all events, including human actions, are predetermined by a divine or cosmic force. The poem questions this idea by presenting hypothetical scenarios and asking whether such actions could be truly "planned out" by a divine entity. The poem suggests that if every choice is already determined, then human freedom is merely an illusion.

The poem also critiques religious determinism, referencing the paradox of being condemned by one's immense liberty, as Sartre might argue. It highlights that while religious doctrines may promote comfort in believing in a higher purpose, they can also deny the fundamental human experience of freedom and choice. The poem embraces existentialist ideas by asserting that humans have the power to make choices that are not constrained by any divine or cosmic plan. "The poet" argues that if divine will had authority over every choice, then the concept of "free will" would be a contradiction.

The poem also addresses the psychological and emotional dimensions of deterministic beliefs, drawing parallels between real life and video games, where outcomes are often scripted or pre-determined. By comparing reality to the "simplistic" virtual realm, the poem critiques the deterministic belief that divine authority controls all outcomes.

The poem employs literary techniques and style, such as irony and satire, repetition, rhetorical questions, imagery and metaphor, and a conversational tone to engage the reader in a dialogue about the nature of freedom, choice, and divine authority. By drawing on existentialist ideas, the poem argues for the primacy of human agency and the limitations of deterministic thinking.

Overall, "In Offense of Determinism" is a compelling reflection on one of the oldest philosophical debates, presented in a style that is both accessible and thought-provoking. The use of existentialist concepts gives it a contemporary relevance, making it resonate with those who question traditional religious or deterministic beliefs.