A Living Will
<center><i>I<br>Universe<br>bequeath<br>through My galaxies<br>and their planets and<br>continents<br>...Henceforeth to All...<br>My Progeny<br>dwelling upon these<br>the sum of<br>My Infinite Idea<br>that We might<br>knowst a life<br>of consequence<br>and choices<br>...each...<br>to Our own<br>capacity</i></center>
<font face="Helvetica" size="4"><b>Free Will: Yes, No</b></font>
It seems to me, that we have a tendency to approach the question of Free Will rather one-sidedly. Perhaps because that is as much as is revealed to us at given moments... We all too frequently balk at what we can do... abhorring our limitations. We find time and again that no amount of "free will" allows us to do what we want to do, or have what we want to have; all of which we of course want to have without consequence.
The described attitude suggests that we certainly have Will, but hardly free...
If we are able to rise above our obstructed wants/demands, which come from who-knows-where, we might find ourselves subscribing to ideas of discipline, meditation, mindfulness, or other measures towards "self-control." But still, that trickle of self-awareness comes from a bottleneck of some source visible to us only from one side—our own! And on our receiving end there is sometimes but a teeny-tiny droplet; at other times a flood. We know not how, or why. There is no spigot to open or shut, and accordingly we feel hardly free at all.... except, Except!
There is the lesson that every child instinctively knows—ask any exasperated parent—of the profound power of "No."
(...you can bring a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink...)
At this point in my reflections on the matter, I would contend that this is the nature of the Freedom of our Will. We receive what we receive. We have options... as if on a menu. We can accept the offerings with an all-embracing "Yes!" ...We can do nothing and go along with a more or less grudging implicit "yes." ...Or stand in opposition by refusing all or rejecting parts. Meanwhile, being railroaded by the Consequences, regardless whichever path we choose. (The tendency to deem the first two options, and certainly the second, as having "softer" repercussions is faulty. Experience teaches otherwise! Consider, by way of example, how regrettably health-conscious individuals succumb to disease as much as those who have "not taken care" of themselves).
The third option (of Opposition) seems to be unique to Mankind. All of Nature says Yes. It cannot seem to do otherwise.
Where does Man's defiance come from? Truly an enigma... It would seem that this is that streak of Evil... the Opposite that must be overcome to return to "Paradise," towards which the rest of Nature is so affirmatively geared... But how to overcome it?! Why do we choose what we choose? I don't see a key to this insight... in the meantime, we are left struggling with what we No, or think we know...
#Challenge
#FreeWill
#YesNo
To exist is to think; but not to doubt.
The inevitable thought of wondering about the force that destiny takes into our lives is somehow a way for us, rational yet empty-purposed beings, to regain confidence in what lies ahead as the future and our skill to handle its obstacles in an appropiate manner in spite of lacking preparation in doing so. Trying to find the true nature of destiny, or debating the reliability of its existance along an entity that writes it, is never going to solve the individual's questions to aim for the truth, because there is not an explanation for purpose or meaning outside one self. The task of the rational person is to set him/herself into a journey towards self-knowledge; so that various options for values, motifs, skills and tastes can be explored and later taken freely, and an aristotelic eudaimonia can be reached by every individual. Taking a Camus-like posture, it's not about wondering if free-will exists, it's about realizing that you are rational and learning to master and take over your decisions and ideas to build yourself the destiny you want to have, no matter what the external circumstances wind up being. That way, the purpose of life will be so clear that no exhortation for destiny will ever be needed, because the path is being taken over by its individual and inspiration to follow it will come along with it.
Will to be free.
Life has a purpose. Life has a meaning.
The signs are apparent for one that sees.
Like the way this world works.
We all were born into it, and we all will die.
In this life we are all given free will.
We choose how we want to live our life.
Either we live a life under guidance of the truth.
Or we can live a life seeking selfish pleasure and desire.
On one side there is awareness and other side is ignorance.
The choice is all upto oneself and their respective rewards are apparents.
Living in ignorance avails no guidance, you are your own master.
And you assume you are above everything else. One can never be at peace.
Because one is always searching for the that which satisfies them.
And the way it works, if ones hunger is satisfied, It will grow each time.
Greed, ego , anger , hatred etc. All grow in same way.
One may think that they have free will over what they do .
But is it really? only but a comfortable cage one chooses to settle in.
So what is free will to you ?
Is it disciplining the soul by restraining from that which harms you ?
Or is it doing whatever you want to satisfy your desires of this world ?
The confusion only exists as long as one is attracted to pleasures of this world.
And thats why guidance of truth never make sense to such.
Only but a story of lies.
What really is the point of free will?
Simple. We chose who we wish to be.
The purpose of free will
Doesn't lie in exhausting it.
Neither is it measured that way.
One may think how can there be such a thing as free will as long as there is something called the truth or rightful path?
But therein lies the simplicity. Either Move towards right guidance and discipline oneself or spend a life exhausting every bit of free will availed to you of your desire and wishes. Which one really incites your will to be free? is freedom and truth associated with worldly pleasure or something greater? its your choice. You decide. Your free will.
What Free Will?
Free will is a perfect lie and nothing more. We have NEVER actually had it, as outside sources have always dictated what and when we do things. "Polite" society dictates what is right and wrong, so does the law, the government, the weather and time dictates to us, the economy and huge companies, our peers, religion, the media, our health...even our dog or cat! Almost everything in some way decides our next move for us.
We have never had free will, we do what we can when we can, but all within the invisible and visible restraints around us.
The Will of All
Suppose an omnipotent, omniscient being exists; then the only way free will can exist, is if the individual is infact one with that supreme being. That being knows everything you will do, before you do it. That being can either allow or prevent you from doing anything before you do it, or that being can cause you to do anything. Therefore the only way you can have free will, is if you ARE that being.
Now set aside that being, and consider this; physics tells us that an infinite number of universes exists. If an infinite number of universes exists, then an infinite number of possibilities exists. Therefore, as the reality of you existing in infinite universes is also a possibility, that possibility exists. You therefore likely exist in an infinite number of universes. In any given moment in any universe, you are presented with possible choices. Each choice you make, is a possibility. Since you likely exist in infinite universes, having choices in any moment in each of those infinite universes, then there are infinite possible choices you might make. Since infinite possibilities exist, and since there is the possibility that in all those infinite universes you will wind up making all the possible choices in any moment, it is most likely that you will. To me, the mathematics seems to imply that it is inevitable that you, throughout all the universes in which you exist, will make every choice possible in any moment. Therefore, if my logic is sound, what ultimately dictates what choices you make, is sheer inevitable probability. If I'm right, this would essentially nullify your free will.
Another thing to consider, is energy. Everything in this universe, at least as far as we know, is energy. Even matter is actually simply congealed energy. Now, the laws of physics, or to be more specific, the laws of of thermodynamics, state that nothing in this universe can be or can happen without the necessary energy being present. However, if I understand correctly, according to the Law of the Conservation of Energy, energy follows the path of least resistance. That means it inevitably does the most it can, at the least possible expense of itself. That means that everything that happens, was the most energy-efficient thing to happen. That also means that everything that happens or comes to be, was inevitable. Now, you make decisions via electromagnetic phenomena within your brain, and all those phenomena happen in accordance to the laws of energy. That means that you actually can't and won't make any decision unless:
1. The necessary energy is present.
2. It is the most energy-efficient for the universe.
If my above understandings of physics are accurate, it logically follows that you don't have free will, unless we consider another theory; the theory that energy is conscious. I'll do my best to clarify this concept. Consider the following organized argument:
Premise 1: Energy can contain and transmit information. According to epigenetic science, our DNA only contains a fraction of the information required to construct a single functioning organ. It is actually the electromagnetic field of an organism, which contains all the required information to construct the whole organism. Additionally, every mechanism in your body is controlled and regulated by electromagnetic impulses within that field. It is via electromagnetic energy that all those mechanisms communicate with eachother. Your brain knows what your skin is touching because your nerves send electromagnetic impulses to your brain, and thus transmit information via energy. Your brain also stores data via electromagnetic energy. Energy can contain and transmit information. Information is knowledge. The brain or mind only "possesses" knowledge or information, by containing it. Containing information is basically the meaning of knowing things, and that is consciousness.
Premise 2: All the information in the entire universe, is contained and transmitted, or shall I say known and communicated, by various forms of energy. Thus, energy collectively is omniscient.
Premise 3: Everything is energy. This leads to:
Premise 4: Collectively, everything is omniscient. You as an individual may not be omniscient, but you are part of an infinite collective of energy that is ultimately omniscient. Similarly, a single cell in your brain does not possess by itself the entirety of your knowledge, but every cell and mechanism within your entire body, collectively, does. Your consciousness is a collective consciousness. It is therefore not unreasonable to consider the possibility that like the cells in your body, all things in this universe are actually part of a greater, collective consciousness that possesses infinite knowledge of everything in this universe.
5. If you're following my logic so far, and if my logic is rightly guided, you may realize that it logically follows that all things are ultimately one collective singularity that ultimately functions as one great whole, and that since that collective singularity both knows everything and controls everything, your will is not individual. Your will is merely a part of the total or ultimate will of the great collective singularity with which you are one. Therefore, in that way, your will is free, because you ARE the supreme, omniscient, omnipresent being. You aren't the whole being in and of yourself, but you are part of it.
I am aware that there could be a plethora of flaws or wholes in my logic and thinking, so I am not fully convinced. But as far as I am currently convinced, which is about 70%, I am a Pantheist who worships Energy. I lean towards the belief that we do have free will, but only because we are all GOD, ENERGY, and therefore, whether we realize it or not, we all contribute to the Will of All.
Yes Virginia, there is free will
Free will exists. Without it, you are a slave. Yet, even slaves have free will because no one owns our heart and soul. We have choices. Choices have outcomes. Outcomes have consequences.
Often, barriers are put in our journey to obtain our outcomes, and this is where free will meets God. How do we know if the barriers in life are for our good?
Like any worthy endeavor, we need barriers to excel. Yet, sometimes, those barriers are warnings to stop before we harm ourselves. Free will means that we are slaves to no one, but understanding God’s will for our lives ensures a fulfilling life.
Free will without God is a life that ends in death. Free will with God is a life that ends with purpose. Life without free will is not life.
An Intricate Machine
I think and therefore I am. I am aware of myself and therefore I am. I feel deeply and therefore I am. But what am I? I am an Intricate Machine. I am not made with wires. I am not made with metal or plastic. I was not designed in a lab somewhere but I am still a machine. I have inputs that tell me about the world around me. I have eyes to see what is around me and where I am going. I have ears to listen to vibrations that travel through the air. I have hands with the ability to feel and distinguish if something is smooth or rough. I can put something in my mouth and determine whether is it sweet or bitter. These inputs travel to my brain. My brain is the central processing system of my body. My brain takes these inputs and performs calculations on them. Based on parameters inside my brain, my brain decides what actions to take based on the results of the calculations. I have outputs to affect the world around me. I have feet that can move me from one place to another. I have hands that allow me grab things and manipulate them. I have a voice and allows me to send sound waves through the air. This is the process of any machine, the recieve inputs, process those inputs, and then output something. I can only produce outputs that are the results of the calculations my brain makes. There are parameters currently set in my brain. Can those parameters change? Absolutely. The things that my input sensors deliver to my central processing center can change the parameters. There are also triggers that are internally built in that can change them. I think I have a will. I think my will is free but the truth is that I can only do things based on the inputs and parameters that are currently set in my brain.