"Free Will" is one of the most cherished of human dogmas. Despite overwhelming evidence from genetics and every branch of science that we are completely predetermined--as is every other part of the physical universe—many humans insist upon clinging to this unfounded dogma. They mistakenly believe this dogma is necessary to their happiness, when in fact it adds to their misery and to the misery of all humanity.
For example, mental illness—even in these "enlightened" times—is looked upon as a defect in character, as a "choice" the mentally ill person has made to be mentally ill!
Many people shun the handicapped because of a secret loathing, a loathing stemming from a false belief that the handicapped person somehow deserved to be born that way or—even more nonsensical—chose to be born that way. Millions of overweight and obese individuals hate themselves and their bodies because society has convinced them they're fat by choice, when in fact obesity is both a genetic and environmental factor. Hundreds of millions of gay individuals are made to feel loathsome, being told they "chose" to be gay, when in actuality gayness is genetic. Predetermined. Every character flaw that we have is looked upon as a choice of free will by nearly all Americans, when in actuality such "flaws" are the result of our genetics or our environment, or both, and hence not a choice at all.
Take a moment with me and let's put on our thinking caps and examine this free will dogma a bit more closely. Did you choose your parents? Did you choose the genetic features that you would inherit? Did you choose your eyesight and the color of your eyes and hair or voice or height? Did you choose the personalities of your parents that you would inherit? Did you choose their parenting styles and skills? Did you choose where they would raise you? In what house or apartment you would be raised? The cuisine you would consume? Did you choose your siblings? Did you choose your school? Did you choose what children you would have available as associates? Did you choose your teachers? Did you choose the curriculum you would have to study? Did you choose the myriad of cultural influences that would shape you, such as religion, language, race? How about television, radio, movies, commercials? Did you of your "own free will" create this earth with its multitude of physical laws by which you are bound? Did you choose your genetic propensities for various activities, such as being good at music or sports?
Here is an easy-to-understand example of how genetics and environment control whom and what we are: Suppose one is born into a primitive pre industrial society of goat-herders. One has been born with a talent for mathematics far greater than the world has ever seen. Yet, because of the environment, that genetic ability will never be developed beyond the need for counting goats. So I ask…
Does your "free will" enable you to make a decision that, "Henceforth I do not need to breathe, nor drink, nor eat, nor sleep! I choose gravity to no longer bind me. I freely choose to live forever and to fly through space and time like Superman." Or are you as bound by these laws as anyone else? Obviously, then, if "free will" exists at all, it is a very minor thing, it's sphere of freedom being very tiny indeed! So small as to not be relevant in anything that went into determining anything about you, because your genetics and environment were completely out of your hands. The more you ponder all the causes and conditions that went into making you "you" the more evident it becomes that you are a predetermined being by genetics and environment, and are further constricted by the myriad physical laws of the universe.
The simple fact, difficult especially for Americans to comprehend because Americans in general shun thinking in difficult critical terms—preferring instead knee-jerk reactions—is that free will is simply not possible. In order for our wills to be truly free, they would have to be outside the chain of cause-and-effect, or else will is not truly free. If will has a cause, then it is merely an effect, and is therefore not truly free. If we remove will from the chain of cause and effect—which we must or else will is not free—then will becomes an effect without a cause. There are no effects without causes. Such a notion is nonsensical, an oxymoron, just as is speaking of a square circle or frozen fire.
The moment you admit that anything limits or determines or directs a choice, it has ceased to be free. I reiterate: In order to be free, truly free and not just seemingly free, will must be completely detached from the chain of cause-and-effect. Will then becomes and effect without a cause; something idiotic, just as idiotic as Superman flying without a motor and the laws of aerodynamics. In other words, it enters the realm of fantasy, for that is what "free will" is. It's a comic-book fantasy. Yes, there are cause-and effect reasons why this fantasy is found in many cultures, though far from all. Most of the world's cultures, from antiquity to the present., recognize that human will is not free, being as predetermined as any other facet of nature.
Rather then being dis-empowering, as many people fear, accepting the reality of cause-and-effect is empowering! Exorcising the spook of "free will" from ones mind frees one to accept oneself as one
is! I can hear an angry person say, "I'll prove to you my will is free! I'll jump up and down on one foot and sing The Star Spangled Banner backwards!" Again, let's put on our thinking caps and analyze this scenario. What is it in the background, upbringing, and genetics of this person that caused them to react negatively to cause and effect? What genetic and environmental factors gave them a rash temperament and irrational mindset? Where did they get the unusual ability to sing backwards? What are the factors that caused them to formulate their challenge in the form of jumping up and down on one foot? Or singing the Star Spangled Banner? Surely if they had been born in another culture, such as a Taoist, Hindu, or Buddhist culture, they would already understand that everything is part of the chain of cause-and-effect and there would be no inner turmoil or inability to accept the reality of cause-and-effect. Or, if they did, their song of choice would not be The Star Spangled Banner, but another national anthem.
The more one takes the time to analyze all the causes and conditions that go into the "choices" we make, the more we see that we are in fact links in an infinitely complex chain of cause-and-effect, with no more freedom than anything else. Also, the more we will see how limited our "choices" are by the laws of the universe. Astronauts do not get up in the morning and make a "free choice" that they will ascend into outer space without a rocket and space ship!
The more one carefully and thoroughly analyzes the free will phantom the more insubstantial it becomes until it finally fades away entirely, to be replaced by the liberating understanding of cause-and-effect. Yes, whether or not one is able to perceive and receive this fact is already predetermined. The entire cosmos and every event, thought, feeling, emotion in it was determined at the moment of the Big Bang when all the physical laws of nature came into existence and began to inexorably unfold the cosmic drama, just like an incomprehensibly gigantic domino display. A cosmic drama that you are a part of, just as everyone and everything is!
So, relax and rest in this knowledge. Accept yourself. Even if that means accepting the fact that you cannot accept yourself!
