The Practical Value of A Belief in Inevitability
Determinism has great practical value in everyday life. These benefits derive from the way real understanding and acceptance of this belief can help us to weaken the grip of self-destructive thoughts and feelings. Counsellors and self-help books wisely advise us to try to put away corrosive thoughts and feelings of regret, shame and guilt, of blame and bitterness, of resentment and revenge. We all know how these thoughts and feelings can destroy our peace of mind. When things have gone wrong, and especially when they've gone tragically wrong, the knowledge that what happened was inevitable really helps us to bear the pain. It weakens the powerful grip of destructive feelings. This makes it easier to accept what's happened and resign oneself to the consequences. And acceptance and resignation can bring solace and serenity. We can then make the best of it and go on from there.
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