“People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use.”
― Søren Kierkegaard
I like to think that Free will is the ability to choose between different possible courses of action. Free will is mainly a state of mind, wishful thinking even. In this society it’s hard to uphold free will as we would like to see it ourselves. I do believe in free thoughts, the power of the mind that can overcome difficulties and things that stand in the way of our bliss. I see free will as a way out of chains of society, as a way of staying on the path that we want to pursue. I also think we have a destiny and the will to follow or discard the path set out for us.
In the "Hero’s Journey" we see that the journey often starts with freeing oneself from the mindset of the surroundings we grow up in, we form our own thoughts and leave the safe haven of being lived and start living ourselves. Our thoughts are Free, but our will has to be very strong and overcome difficulties to be free as well.
There are complications though. Free will and free speech are being used in a poor moral concept due to ignorance and lack of empathy. Even though I am a protagonist of free speech and free will, I try as much as I can to consider the effect of my actions and words on other people. But then again, sometimes people need to be shaken up a little, don’t they? It’s important though not to cross other people’s boundaries. Poor moral conduct always lies in ignorance and that is not what free will is about.
In some religious streams, Free Will is considered the cause of suffering, and is used to explain why God tolerates suffering and misery. But I am more on C.S. Lewis' side who says: “Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free will involves, and you find that you have excluded life itself.” Suffering is a part of life and I can see how free will can be the cause of suffering within because you take a risk every time you practice free will.
To me the important point of free will is that it gives me a choice. Even a limited choice is a choice. Even a bad choice is a choice. Even to do nothing is a choice, It can give us a choice between dark and light. It gives us the responsibility that we need to grow up and become what we are meant to be. It also gives us the choice to do the right thing even against all odds. I truly believe we do have a free will, especially against all odds.
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