Free Will

On a casual e-mail conversation with one of my friends, I used the term free will just like that to say my conscious decision. After that it struck me, is that an autonomous decision or predestined one. This must have been many conversations logically and scientifically to establish objectives and factors on this area. However I wanted to do a conversation with my friend (none other than an enlightened ME!)

A look at my own life, When I was in my mid twenties, I had a dream, like everyone else. I had a dream of making big! I wanted to make a lot of money. Then my aim was to make twenty to thirty lakhs, which is approximately $60,000. That’s all! Once I make it, I'd turn to much of a free time, many fun travel and a bit of sports of my choice. 

Then, I quit working in Delhi for an appliance manufacturer and started perusing my higher studies. It was a once hectic way of life. School in the morning and Work at night to manage the expenses. However I managed it for almost two full years. During those days, when I rode through the big bungalows at Aurangzeb and Akbar Roads, I wish to dream a peaceful life to worrying about anything, having a cup of coffee served in the posh lawn - by a servant. I'd be dreaming of me able to drink it without worrying to run for work or plan for studies. My dream was to make it to America and live with no strings!

After 16 years, when I looked back, yes I had completed those milestones, however am I free from all strings? I’ve more responsibilities than I was studying then. Looking at the events that had happened in-between I started asking myself, Is there such a thing as predestination after all?

Refer to books or google search university, you will see a bundle of citations that your karma has predestined you for a certain path; but your free will can decide to choose a different path.

Ah Ha. I got it! I should have exercised my free will to be like what I wanted to be. Wait a minute! However then, I did to an extent. Either it mean that my free will is not that strong enough or a notion of absolute autonomy is an illusion!

I started asking a very simple question to my friend (enlightened ME) “Is everything predestined?”

He looked up at me quizzically and raised his eyebrows. I continued “All the things I will feel, say or do in the future are decided on in the present?” 

He started shaking his head up and down. 

“Doesn't that mean everything is fixed” - I asked in disbelief

He started shaking his head side to side, meaning ‘nah’

“Then even the idea of having a free will is dictated by the culture in which I was predestined to be born,” I went on “ Then my future is fixed and there’s nothing I can do about it.

My friend took a glass of water on the table and on a fraction of a second dumped it on my head. I was shocked and with anger took searched for something, so that I can throw it back. My friend smiled at me said, “Too bad, you were predestined to be drenched like this! Well, that’s your fate.” I was fuming and got hold of the fork and took it to his face and yelled “Ya, I’m damn sure your free will was a part of my fated act!”

My friend looked at me, smiled and said, “I’d say you were predestined to revise your faith on fate.”

I went speechless!

After all these things, I did not had any path to follow on this topic; And I wanted to see the western culture as how that had reflected the same idea (with my limited knowledge).

The western philosophy is purely based on the three major pillars Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The Greek trio were the forebears of reasoning including ideas, critical thinking and goal. As Christianity was gaining popularity, these philosophies  took it to an important turning point in history. The thinking added with scientific discoveries started clashing with religion. There were two distinct stands when it comes to the free will: Incompatibilism and Compatibilism. The Incompatibilism was explained by German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) that, "Man is free to do what he wills, but he cannot will what he wills.” Whereas Compatibilism argued that, determinism is compatible with human freedom. The Frenchmen Descartes (1596-1650) started questioning the reality and establishes that dualism in philosophy (originally thought by Plato). He famously coined the statement “I think therefore I am”.

I've listened to many old Tamil songs and read some thought provoking books, in which the poets had taken a great measure to explain the dimensions of the free will. One had explained it as a small paper boat in a strong current; another one equated the free will as a raging bull; another viewed it as a high flying kite on a windy day, another peculiar reference of the free will to a mimicking parrot repeating the same thing. The count goes on and I'm sure that this type of references will be all over other languages and cultures as well. 

A very common reference is the Gita Saar (Essence of Gita), as ‘Whatever happened, happened for the good; whatever is happening, is happening for the good; whatever will happen, will also happen for the good only. You need not have any regrets for the past. You need not worry for the future. The present is happening..’ 

Did it mean that the future is deterministic, but unknown! Interesting. I wish I know how many runs I’ll score in tomorrow’s game or how many catches I’m going to drop! That would help me to decide to go or not to go; Oh, Well! I can’t do it now….because I’m destined to score runs and miss catches.