[MD] experience

[craigerb at comcast.net]

"The ques­tion of whether an electron does a certain thing because it has to or because it wants to is completely irrelevant to the data of what the electron does." "The difference between these two points of view is philosophic, not scientific."
[RMP, Lila, Chap. 12]

[Case]
> Would you be willing to apply that same logic to people?

An electron & other such particles operate only at the inorganic level.  People operate at all levels.
Consider the following:  Suspend 2 magnets by a thread near each other.  What happens?
"The North & South ends of the magnet are attracted to each other."
Attracted to each other?  Like people are attracted to each other?
"Well, no.  'Attracted to each other' is a phrase a schoolteacher would use.  A scientist would say there is a magnetic force that forces the ends together."
So, besides the 2 ends of the magnets, there is a 3rd thing--a force.  What 4th thing does the force use to force the ends of the magnets together?
"There is no 4th thing.  The magnetic force itself forces the 2 ends together."
So when the magnetic force is there, the 2 ends are forced together.  And when the magnetic force isn't there, the 2 ends aren't forced together."
"Well, no.  Wherever there are magnets, the magnetic force is always there."
Then what explanatory role does the force play?  All you really have is the 2 ends of the magnets coming together.  You might as well say that's what they prefer to do.
Craig