| I agree with that experiment. Perhaps someone like Charles Manson could boast of free will? But even he could not make a choice to be perfectly right relative to every biblical or governmental law. If we have free will how come we cannot will our own perfectionism when it comes to conforming to all moral commandments of the Chruch?
In thought and in action?
Now we have some degree of free will. If you are on a diet you might have a choice on the menu between fat food or some green veggies, so you might use some will power to make a choice to eat healthy food even if your mind is graving some of those baby back ribs. If you wake up in the morning you could make a choice between wearing a blue shirt of a white shirt. So it seems we have some limited choices that give us the impression of free will but that would not mean that we can have unlimited free will (as pointed out). Likewise we have the religious idea of surrendering free will (indivdidual free will) and going with the flow as products of destiny and fate, letting go and letting God, etc. As in the Lord's Prayer "thy will be done" (not my free will). Which is another avenue for brainstorming.
Free will and the ability to make the right choice would also depend on absolute knowledge of all future potentials, as well as knowledge of all aspects of truth and not just limited truths or half-truths, would need to know the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Unless you are all-seeing and all-knowing it would be foolish to make choices that would effect your future, as that would be like running fast in near darkness or jumping over a log not knowing absolutly what is on the other side of the log.
And so the most responsible thing to do is to make choices only about those limited spaces where-in we see clearly what that choice will manifest for us. However not taking a risk might also limit our potentials because of the fears of not knowing for sure what choice to make. That could freeze us in our tracks. And as long as choice must include risk then we cannot be responsible for failure if we make the wrong choice and fall flat on our face. We must only assume we have the option to try again.
"Every good deed has it's punishment". (someone said). Hmmm? Works for me.
Anyway some things to think about, any comments?
Technosoul. |