Humans' Perception of Free Will

The overwhelming majority of people feel they possess free will. For example, when my partner asks if I would like a cup of tea, I contemplate and respond with either a yes or no, believing I am making a choice. Similarly, while browsing Netflix for a series to watch, I feel I am exercising my freedom to choose. As I navigate early career decisions, weighing two job offers, I grapple with my internal conflicts before reaching a conclusion.

Even in moral quandaries—like deciding whether to stop eating meat for environmental reasons—our experiences are laden with choices. Consider a Grand Master chess player who spends hours contemplating her next move before making a decision. We reportedly make around 35,000 decisions daily, a figure that raises questions about its feasibility.

Religious Perspectives on Free Will

Major world religions, particularly monotheistic faiths such as Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, uphold the belief in free will. Hinduism incorporates the notion of karma, suggesting that individuals should exercise their free will positively to attain good karma. Sikhism aligns with this view, while Buddhism's stance will be addressed later.

Cultural Perspectives on Choice

The belief in free will is deeply ingrained in our culture. Our justice system operates on the premise that individuals choose to break laws, leading to consequences for those choices. Additionally, the self-improvement industry thrives on the notion that we can choose to better ourselves.

Unconscious Influences on Decision-Making

Research indicates that approximately 95% of our thoughts occur beneath the surface of consciousness. Since decisions stem from thoughts, it follows that many of our choices arise from unconscious processes. This revelation leans the argument toward the notion that we may not possess as much free will as we assume, particularly when we equate free will with conscious decision-making.

What Lies Beyond Free Will?

For a comprehensive understanding, we can refer to concepts such as determinism, pre-determinism, fatalism, and compatibilism. Determinism posits that every action results from a chain of prior events, while pre-determinism suggests that outcomes are predetermined. Fatalism shares similarities with pre-determinism but isn't confined to causal relationships. Compatibilism seeks to reconcile free will with determinism by defining free will in a specific manner.

Historical Philosophical Perspectives

Historically, philosophers have varied in their views. Aristotle and Hume leaned toward compatibilism, while Descartes affirmed free will. Nietzsche rejected it, and Kant oscillated between determinism and free will in different writings.

Science and the Question of Free Will

Scientific inquiry, particularly in neuroscience, has increasingly favored the idea that our actions are predetermined. As highlighted in a 2016 article from the Atlantic, the sciences assert that human behavior can be understood through the laws of cause and effect. Neuroscience portrays the brain as a physical system, suggesting that our actions are as predictable as the beating of our hearts.

Notable figures like Sam Harris argue that free will is an illusion, asserting that our thoughts emerge from unconscious influences over which we have no control. Conversely, philosophers like Daniel Dennett challenge this notion, asserting that the free will Harris critiques is not the same as the free will most individuals perceive.

The Teachings of Nondualism

I previously mentioned various religions but omitted the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, which has gained traction in Western culture. Nondualism posits that there is no individual "I" making choices, thus rendering the concept of choice illusory. One teacher states that free will is merely an illusion perceived by an illusory self.

Understanding Our Experience of Free Will

If Nondualism holds true, why do we experience the sensation of free will? This could relate to different levels of consciousness. Vedanta describes three orders of reality: the absolute, the objective, and the subjective. At the absolute level, choice may be irrelevant; at the objective level, determinism prevails; while at the subjective level, we feel we have choices.

Peter Russell discusses how two states of consciousness influence our perception of free will: everyday consciousness, where we believe we have free will, and liberated consciousness, where we do not.

Can We Ever Know for Certain?

What would it take to conclusively prove the existence of free will or its absence? The debate between free will and determinism resembles the ongoing discourse surrounding consciousness—whether it is a byproduct of brain activity or something more fundamental.

Ultimately, the uncertainty surrounding free will poses profound questions about our existence.

The Distinction Between Free Will and Freedom

After years of contemplation and research, I can concede that while we may feel we possess free will, this experience might be an illusion, with our actions likely being predetermined. Nevertheless, I believe there exists an essence of freedom deep within us.

Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, encapsulated this sentiment in his work, emphasizing the importance of choosing one’s attitude in any circumstance. He highlights that every moment provides an opportunity for a decision that can preserve one’s dignity and inner freedom.

This suggests that while free will may be elusive, there is still the potential for genuine freedom.

In closing, I am reminded of the phrase: "Ask, and it shall be given." This isn't merely about material desires, but rather about seeking insight and understanding. Often, when I request clarity, I receive unexpected insights that feel liberating.

Joan Tollifson encourages us to explore the question of choice in the present moment, inviting us to engage with it as a living inquiry rather than a predetermined conclusion.

As I conclude, I leave you with further questions:

• What role does divine will play in this discourse?
• Does the unconscious origin of a decision negate the possibility of free will?
• If science definitively established that free will is an illusion, would it alter your behavior?