This varying in predictions means there's a chance of there being a different outcome then the one he could be prosecuted for.
The Idea of prosecuting people for crimes they are yet to commit is in support of the theory of determinism because it means our destiny is laid out before us with no chance of our changing it in favor of ourselves. Their law system completely takes the idea of free will out of the equation by believing that you will undoubtedly do the wrong thing. This is an example of Lucas's logical determinism which s the belief that the future is already fixed by events that were set in motion at the beginning of everything and we're just a the logical aftereffects of that catalyst. We're more like pieces falling into place then dust randomly drifting in the wind.
It makes sense to use an intricate form of calculations to unravel the human thought process and take into account all possible variable to receive an accurate prediction. This would hold place unless there was a radical change in space in time that made it so the laws of nature didn't apply and everything lost it's natural order. The thing about making judgement based of of predictions made from calculations made by humans s that humans are imperfect. The universe to which they were born is also imperfect so there's never really a final most definite completely undeniable answer to anything. To believe that everything is determined ahead of time is to believe that everything is perfect and will always follow a natural order on a grand scale. That's just not how it is, we're not even sure how a quarter of the stuff in the universe works. We don't have enough knowledge to support the idea of predetermination.
Something that I thought while watching Minority Report, was how insane and hysterical the society would have to be in order to keep such a system like that going. On 2 fronts this system is ridiculous; 1) The past and future don't actually exist, all that exists is in the present. 2) If you're on this pre-determined path, then you have 0 responsibility for your own actions, therefore why are you holding anyone accountable.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, the Past and future don't actually exist. Where are the Legions of Rome, the Libraries of Alexandria, or the Dodo Bird? Gone. They are in human record and human imagination and record, and neither of those reflect reality. Yesterday doesn't exist, it already died and became today. Therefore the past as a concept is flawed, because it doesn't exist anymore. Similarly, the Future doesn't exist either. Tomorrow is also in a person's imagination, the same way jet packs and ray guns are, but they're not here, in reality. They remain a possibility, but they are not definite. Therefore the only thing that exists in reality is the present, what's happening right now, therefore that's the only place where a human, or anything really has any real agency. So in Minority Report, they are jailing someone for what is essentially a potential crime, not a crime, and locking away someone who is a potential criminal, not a criminal, on the word of a really really advanced 1998 Windows computer. If you're going to do that, just lock up everybody, because everyone could be a potential murderer, rapist, or jaywalker.
On that note, if everything is predetermined, that a person will in fact commit the crime the computer says he will, He is in no way responsible for his own actions. There is no rehabilitating or punishing a reflex of the universe, there is no way for a body that is devoid of its own agency or choice to do anything differently than what it's already doing. That's like trying to imprison the sun for being too bright, or punishing the oceans for being too wet. You might as well ask them to grow an inch taller, or sneeze gold coins. If I was already going to kill somebody, then I'm as much of a victim as the new corpse. So why do we even need a judicial system if we've already logicked that there is no justice? On some level we've decided That these things can be stopped or changed, which is why we've developed a police force in the first place.
So essentially there is some deep cognitive dissonance going on in this society, which is what the movie was trying to get at in the first place. If we decide that things happen deterministically, what's the point of having any of that sweet sexy intention, responsibility or will in the first place, if we're just going to be denied it anyway.
So many questions arise when I think about Minority Report. Do we actually have free will or are we controlled by destiny? If we could predict the future like they could in the film, would we be able to change it? Also if we do have a particular destiny, does that destiny affect our daily choices? What is destiny, really? I mean, is everything not simply a result of one’s choices?
ReplyDeleteAnother question brought up in this film is whether or not one should actually be punished for a “predicted crime”. We cannot accurately predict human behavior since we have such complex thoughts. As in the film, we can only make assumptions about someone’s behavior and act based off of them… Is that not changing “destiny" though?
I believe that if everything is already predetermined then there is no point living. Only if you knw that your life is predetermined. If you knew wat was going to happen everyday of your life it would bot be worth living in my opinion. You would not be able to create your own "story" . Your life would be played out like a book.
ReplyDeleteI believe that if everything is already predetermined then there is no point living. Only if you knw that your life is predetermined. If you knew wat was going to happen everyday of your life it would bot be worth living in my opinion. You would not be able to create your own "story" . Your life would be played out like a book.
ReplyDeleteI believe that if everything is already predetermined then there is no point living. Only if you knw that your life is predetermined. If you knew wat was going to happen everyday of your life it would bot be worth living in my opinion. You would not be able to create your own "story" . Your life would be played out like a book.
ReplyDeleteI believe that if everything is already predetermined then there is no point living. Only if you knw that your life is predetermined. If you knew wat was going to happen everyday of your life it would bot be worth living in my opinion. You would not be able to create your own "story" . Your life would be played out like a book.
ReplyDelete