Choice Quote by Brand Blanshard
“I am a determinist...The real issue, so far as the will is concerned, is not whether we can do what we choose to do, but whether we can choose our own choice, whether the choice itself issues in accordance with law from some antecedent.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Essays in Philosophy, 1935
The core issue is not about ability to act, but about the freedom to select the very act itself within deterministic laws.
In simple terms: Freedom to choose the act itself is the real problem.
Key Takeaway
Question the source of your choices.
Themes
determinism
free will
philosophy
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- ethical debates
- personal decision making
- legal responsibility
Key Concepts
causality
autonomy
agency
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you think true autonomy can exist under determinism?
- How does this view affect moral responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Determinism may limit perceived agency.
![“[How to think about a problem:] The first step is to make the problem specific . . . ; The second step is to form theories freely of how to rid yourself of that burden . . . ; The third step is to develop in foresight the consequences of your proposals . . . ; The fourth and final step in thinking…” quote by Brand Blanshard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4bf/brand-blanshard-35170_burden_how-to-think-about-a-problem-the-first-s_1268830.jpg)
