Exploring Free Will: The Illusion of Choice and Its Implications
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Chapter 1: The Quest for Free Will
Initially, I intended to compose an article focusing on time travel, a subject I've always found fascinating. However, while conducting my research, I stumbled upon a more profound and pressing question: Do we genuinely possess free will?
Time Travel and Free Will
In accordance with Einstein's field equations and the principles of general relativity, time travel seems feasible under certain conditions. Although we lack the technology and comprehension to achieve this currently, it's a captivating topic worth discussing.
One well-known dilemma associated with time travel to the past is the grandfather paradox.
The Grandfather Paradox
This paradox presents a scenario where if you were to journey back in time and eliminate your grandparents or parents before your own conception, you would negate your own existence. Thus, if you were not born, you could not travel back in time. This paradox serves as the foundation for the entire Terminator series.
How might one circumvent this paradox? Are there unseen forces preventing you from, say, pulling the trigger? Or would you simply cease to exist the moment you attempted to commit the act?
Several theories attempt to clarify this enigma. One notable perspective suggests the existence of parallel realities or dimensions. If you traveled to the past to alter the present, you would arrive in an alternate past, affecting a reality separate from your original one. This concept is often referred to as the "Many Worlds Interpretation (MWI)."
Thus, you could potentially harm your grandfather, but it would have no impact on your own existence; you would merely be altering an alternate timeline.
Divine Intervention
Another intriguing theory is the "Novikov self-consistency principle," which posits that the likelihood of any event leading to a paradox is effectively zero. In essence, this means that you would be unable to kill your grandparents or parents in the past, regardless of your attempts. This notion may seem akin to fantastical thinking.
This principle implies that despite your efforts to prevent your own birth, you would ultimately fail. Even more compelling is the idea that perhaps you wouldn’t even have the inclination to harm yourself. The universe might simply prevent your mind from making such a choice.
Novikov contends that we already have physical laws that restrict our actions. For instance, gravity keeps us grounded, and the principles of solid matter prevent us from passing through walls. He suggests that similar laws may exist to avert time travel paradoxes.
This leads to a crucial inquiry: If you are incapable of willing your own demise in the past, do you truly possess free will?
Predestination
The response to this question could revolve around "predestination." This term is also the title of a thought-provoking film that I highly recommend, currently available on Netflix!
The film explores both time travel and the concept of free will. Within its narrative, the time traveler is bound by his timeline, unable to alter events or escape the cycle in which he finds himself. While it is a work of fiction, the underlying dilemma poses a real question that philosophers and scientists continue to grapple with: Is free will an illusion?
The film illustrates this notion through predestination, suggesting that our paths are predetermined and immutable. From the moment our hearts begin to beat, our journeys are set in motion along a fixed timeline with an unchangeable outcome.
Chapter 2: Philosophical Perspectives on Free Will
The debate surrounding free will has birthed various philosophical schools of thought, including compatibilism, incompatibilism, determinism, and indeterminism. I won’t delve into these theories in depth, but they primarily examine whether our choices are genuinely our own or if they are influenced by factors beyond our control.
For those examining this question, the focus is not on the broader concept of predestination. Instead, they seek to determine whether individuals can be held accountable for actions such as murder.
In my view, the answer is unequivocal: "Yes, you are responsible if you take someone's life."
My perspective on the absence of free will does not absolve us of accountability for our actions. This is why I assert that the concept of free will, or the lack thereof, ultimately doesn't hold significant weight in our lives.
The Implications of Lacking Free Will
In my opinion, the absence of free will arises from the notion that our paths are preordained. Every choice we make has been decided before we even consider it. The decision to apply for a job or not is irrelevant; the choice has already been made for us.
“A man can do what he wants, but not want what he wants.” — Arthur Schopenhauer
This should not be misinterpreted as a reason to refrain from pursuing your aspirations. It does not imply that you cannot alter your destiny. You remain unaware of your ultimate fate. Much like Schrödinger’s cat, your future is simultaneously a success and a failure until it unfolds.
So, what does this truly signify?
For one, it indicates that the distinction may be trivial. If the aforementioned concepts hold true and free will is an illusion, it will not impede our decision-making processes. After all, we are still oblivious to the choices we will encounter in the future. Since we cannot foresee what lies ahead, we can approach life as it comes, one step at a time.
However, it also suggests that if you were somehow privy to your future, you still would not be able to change it. Every decision you make, even if made in an effort to evade a foreseen outcome, would ultimately lead you to that very future. This perspective is not about short-term choices, like whether to attend brunch next Saturday; those are mere ripples in the vast ocean of your existence.
Whatever is meant to occur will indeed happen.
Lastly, it implies that there is no higher force advising you to abandon your pursuits simply because you have encountered failure repeatedly. Instead, it suggests that your setbacks were predetermined as part of the journey. No one can dictate whether your endeavors are worthwhile. If your intuition signals that you are on the right path, persist. Do not surrender.
To me, this perspective means that every setback in life is not the end. All occurrences, whether positive or negative, are part of a larger tapestry. However, we may never truly know if our destined path leads to triumph or defeat. We must continue onward, for only time will reveal the answers.
Kevin is an editor and writer for the ILLUMINATION and Polyglot Poetry publications. Connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn.