What relation does temptation have to the human conscience? It was asked in class whether or not we become a slave to the temptation that we give in to. Supposing that the temptation harms us in the long run or brings negative consequences, we long for what we ultimately desire, casting aside the adversities that trail along. I guess if you want an example, one could be a heroin user whose ultimate goal is to blast off and reach new heights (get high). However, every time that—let’s call the heroin user Joseph—Joseph uses heroin it adds another coin to the pot of bad effects to his body: the insomnia, chills, heart palpitations, and sad feelings. Joseph has enough will to overcome the negative effects of heroin for the high. To outsiders, Joseph is wasting his life away, being a slave to his temptations. But what about Joseph’s opinion? Shouldn’t that be the only opinion that truly matters? Joseph probably would say, “No man, I’m not a slave to my temptations. You got any change?” If we were a slave to our temptations, it would mean that we do it against our own will, but here in Joseph’s case, it was his free will to shoot up. So the point I am trying to make is that if we really want something, it is from our free will that we choose to do so. We are not slaves to our temptations if we want them. Until the day that Joseph decides that he no longer wants to use heroin and continues to use heroin against his own will, Joseph is not a slave to his temptation. Thad made a similar situation a couple weeks ago. He talked about how even though he didn’t want to take out the trash, he took out the trash, which meant that he actually wanted to take out the trash. If he didn’t want to take out the trash, he would not have taken out the trash.