Author of the material:
Igor Lyadsky
Geneticist, writer, business coach, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Each of us, born in a democratic society, is endowed with certain rights from the first minutes of our lives. As they grow older, their number increases. Freedom of choice is one of the highest values. But, most often, it is acquired at a conscious age, when we begin to take responsibility for ourselves. There are various human freedoms, which will also be discussed in this publication. After all, in order to claim something, you must first find out about it.
What is freedom of choice?
Freedom of choice is the ability to independently decide in favor of one of the alternatives. That is, if someone has several opportunities to perform a certain act, then he alone has the right to make a choice. As paradoxical as it sounds, not everyone is happy about this. After all, behind any choice there are certain consequences that fall on the shoulders of the one who made the decision. So it turns out that most people are in no hurry to take responsibility. It is easier for them to delegate this to another, even at the risk of being infringed on in their freedom. This is also everyone’s choice and right.
It’s another matter when this right is deprived against one’s will. Then you should use the entire arsenal of acceptable possibilities to solve this problem.
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The principle and purpose of free will
To make it easier to understand the principle of such free will, it would be better to give an example. However, taking into account the uniqueness of each person as a character who made certain conclusions in certain situations, and from them put together a personality puzzle, it is better to give an example in Vaakum with pure and exaggerated manifestations of personality traits that do not exist in reality. Let's assume a situation: a passerby is hit by a car and a certain person passes nearby. Let us also assume that a certain person has an indifferent, cruel and uncompassionate character - determinism of character will manifest itself in a mechanical disregard for the suffering of others. If such a person is compassionate, then determinism, that is, the absence of free will, will consist precisely in help. Consciousness and the ability to go beyond accumulated experience allow you to make choices regardless of personality traits and this will be free will. But even greater free will is the choice to change your character, to make the desired movements of the will so natural that they become character.
This will manifest itself in working on yourself. For example, a person wants to become disciplined, but he does not have discipline. He will be forced to exert his will over and over again in order to acquire discipline. And this is the very act of free will. Straining his will over and over again, he makes a certain tension of will natural, which bears fruit - a person achieves what he wants. A person accustomed to discipline will not be able to give it up, because that is his character. Discipline becomes part of such a person and determinism is already manifested in this. To refuse discipline now, a person will need to go against his own will.
Having considered from this point of view what free will means, we can understand not only its essence, but also its purpose. Free will is granted not in order to make a person independent of certain forces, but in order to make him happy. The desired choice always presupposes happiness as the ultimate goal, and by straining the will to achieve the right goals, a person gains happiness, not independence. We can say that free will in choosing what you want leads to even greater dependence, since it imposes obligations, ignoring which the goal of free will will move away from the person. Anyone who wants to become a champion imposes on himself an amount of tension that can hardly be linked to the concept of freedom, but this is what will, choice and achieving a goal are all about. To give up our freedom voluntarily for the sake of something means to be free to choose what we live for.
In this sense, the question of free will means that each person himself decides whether to have free will or not. Those who want to have it are forced to strain their will, and those who refuse this freedom are under the power of their character and inclinations, which determine their entire life path. But if we ask the question differently: what if the attempt to change the character and tension of the will is already dictated in advance by forces from above? In this case, we are absolutely dependent and have no free will. And here a person has the first choice - to accept free will or refuse it. William James put it this way: “I decide that I have free will, and this choice confirms my free will.”
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What is inner freedom?
Inner freedom is the ability to be independent in your own inner world. After all, most barriers begin with psychology, with fears, complexes and stereotypes. Liberation from them is the first and most important stage on the path to gaining independence and independence from others.
This concept should not be confused with detachment from the world. Absolutely not, because by contacting the surrounding reality, you can fully realize your freedom. How to talk about independence, if not, on whom to depend? This is already loneliness. If it is chosen deliberately, well, that's one thing. And if someone simply runs away from others, obeying their phobias and complexes, this is already a problem that should be dealt with.
Are there teachings or theories in favor of free will?
Of course they do exist. The concept that is the opposite of determinism and says that the future is not determined by the past is called indeterminism (from the Latin in - not , negation). One of the popular philosophies that adhere to the principles of indeterminism (uncertainty) is libertarianism .
According to libertarianism, all things are divided into thinking things and extended things . Extended things are in space (have a certain extent) and are determined by the past and the laws of nature. But thinking things - thoughts, will, consciousness - are not located in space and are not determined (that is, not determined) by the laws of the material world.
I think, therefore I exist. Rene Descartes.
Since will is a thinking thing, not located in space and not determined by it, then, according to the views of libertarianism, people endowed with free will also have freedom of action.
What is freedom of thought?
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Freedom of thought is the natural right to independently form one’s own beliefs. Its essence is very similar to the previous concept. Our thoughts shape our inner world. Fantasies, dreams and aspirations are a secluded refuge in which you can hide, even in moments of physical enslavement. And as long as someone is able to think freely, he cannot be considered completely subservient.
Therefore, all totalitarian systems in the world began their rule precisely by imposing their ideology. Even now, invisible wars are being waged on the minds of people, as consumers, voters, fans, etc. That is why it is so important to approach your life consciously, not to stop in self-development and gaining new knowledge. After all, the smarter and more experienced an individual is, the more difficult he is to be manipulated by hidden people, the freer he is in his head.
Free will and knowledge
But how does free will manifest itself in relation to knowledge? If we are determined by our character, we tend to accept only certain knowledge, that which is consistent with our character. And if we want positive changes and we are not satisfied with our character, then the efforts of the will should be directed not to knowledge that is curious and pleasant to us, but to knowledge that is useful to us and leads to happiness. The first knowledge, that is, pleasant, satisfies only curiosity and causes short-term satisfaction, without deep changes. The second knowledge is such knowledge, by directing the effort of will, we achieve happiness. The difference between the first and the second is obvious, the first is pleasant, and the second is useful, our mind strives for the first on its own, and we should cultivate the second through willpower and reason. But knowledge can also be perceived in different ways. Even all of the above can be perceived as entertaining reading or as real knowledge that can have a positive effect. This also manifests free will, in the way we perceive everything: consciously or unconsciously.
By cultivating knowledge that leads to happiness, we get rid of suffering and get closer to what we want, which gives us a feeling of happiness that does not depend on external circumstances. Having known ourselves and the path that will bring us the best results, we are able to correctly manage our will, but as long as we do not have enough knowledge, disappointments and wrong choices will await us. Therefore, an intelligent person should make an effort to acquire knowledge in order to make the right choices.
What other freedoms are there?
In addition to the varieties listed earlier, we can talk about a number of other freedoms:
- Religion;
- Expressing your thoughts;
- Movement;
- Access to information;
- Creativity;
- Ownership of your body;
- Self-determination;
- Voli.
The importance of these rights in a democratic society is confirmed by the presence of a number of laws that help citizens realize themselves.
Choice of religion.
It gives each of us the opportunity to independently determine who to believe in, or not to believe at all. Although the church is inextricably linked with the state, in developed countries of the world every citizen has the right to choose his own system of religious values.
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Free expression of your thoughts.
Regardless of whether someone wants to express their opinions orally or in writing, they have the right to do so. Censorship is a reference to totalitarian regimes. On the other hand, there is a moral and ethical side to this issue. After all, sometimes you can say or write something offensive towards another. So, it is important to understand where the rights of one intersect with the interests of another.
Unhindered movement.
The embodiment of a decision is its implementation through action. For example, go somewhere, go to a certain place, etc. Legislation controls this, which, in fact, infringes on some desires. But, when we are talking about millions of people, it is actually very difficult to establish a balance when the personal space of one does not enter into the territory of another. After all, it is very important not only to fight for opportunities, but also to respect the freedom of the people around us.
Right of access to information.
Information hunger depletes a person no less than a real lack of food. The brain is designed to receive new information, regardless of its types and forms. Political news, sporting events, the next episode of a television series, etc. The main thing is the endless flow of data. Since such a need is inherent in our nature, it means there must be a right to satisfy it.
Opportunities for creativity.
There is no more democratic way to reflect your inner world than to engage in creativity. Literature, fine arts, sculpture, etc. All this helps to be more fully in contact with the outside world and realize one’s inner potential. And even if someone may not like it, no one has any reason to infringe on this type of self-expression.
The right to own your body.
A sensitive topic. On the one hand, the body is our property. On the other hand, rash decisions to transform it can also impose a certain social connotation. For example, some types of tattoos that are considered unacceptable in society. Everyone can do some of them, but as a result, opportunities for business communication or going to the city beach will be limited. Because other people simply won't want to talk or even be in the same area.
Freedom of self-determination.
The right to independently control your consciousness and mental processes. We are talking about the complete autonomy of a person in his conscious self-development. Everyone has the right to move in the direction they are interested in.
Determinism
Determinism is the doctrine of the causality of all processes. Those. everything that happens has reasons and is strictly determined by them. This means that there is only one future, strictly determined by previous events. Based on this teaching, no one has any freedom - everything is predetermined, any thoughts, doubts, actions and consequences.
In other words, the initial conditions of the Big Bang (or what was at the very beginning) have already determined (determined) the entire future of the Universe, down to the movement of each atom. Every choice in your life is inevitable. There is no room for your ego or free will, there is no way to change the situation. Even your doubts when making decisions are predetermined, as is what you will ultimately choose.
According to this point of view, theoretically, if you know all the source data and have sufficient computing power, mathematics can be used to predict everything in the future and clearly prove the predestination of anything in the world.
What will quantum physics and the uncertainty principle say?
Quantum physics does not abolish the principle of determinism (certainty), and the “uncertainty principle” in quantum mechanics only means that it is impossible to measure two related quantities with extreme precision, and not that they are actually incomprehensibly uncertain.
Quantum physics uses probabilities to predict the behavior of particles, rather than predicting the future. The fact that observation introduces errors in the measurement of small quantities does not mean that these particles can actually behave as they please and be anywhere.
Why was freedom given to man?
God gave man free will, including so that man could freely and consciously become like Him, spiritually draw closer to Him as his Creator, the Source of all blessings, so that he could, with the assistance of Divine grace, realize his creative powers. Free will, which is essentially inherent to us, when used correctly, allows us to acquire and develop virtues and voluntarily ascend the ladder of spiritual perfection. However, the first man took advantage of this freedom to comprehend sin, and, in addition, he also blamed God for this opportunity given to him.
The period of “good luck and luck”.
The period when everything works out, when opportunities come, when success bursts into your life.
As in all periods discussed below, it is necessary to keep the level of effort at least at a minimum level in order to collect all the cream. Ideally, increase the amount of effort to get the most out of this period.
During such a period, it is important not only to take, but to wisely distribute what is received. How many life stories have we heard about how a person, having found himself in a stream of success, simply squandered everything he had. During such periods, most often a person wants to increase his expenses, vigilance is lost. During such periods, it is necessary, on the contrary, to increase vigilance. Many successful and rich people warn about this, for example, Robert Kiyosaki writes about this in his books. I also wrote about this in my article “What money advice would I give to my children.”
During such a period, it will depend on you how well you use it? I'm sure it will.
What such periods teach us is the ability to manage luck, the ability to remain human. Such periods are certain tests that not everyone passes, because pride and greed can completely take over the heart, and then a person gains wealth, but is destroyed as a person.
Free will and moral aspect
When discussing free will, we must also be aware of the moral aspect. The problem is that a person does not live in the world alone and most serious actions in one way or another affect the lives of the people around him. In this sense, a person’s free will is still full, because one can perform any action that is physically possible. However, a person pays for free will, in this case, also with responsibility for his actions. If free will is aimed at happiness for others, then the consequences will be positive, but if, due to the free will of a specific person, someone suffers, the consequences will be negative. Someone saves the life of a drowning man - he used his free will and thereby created certain consequences. Another, on the contrary, having committed a crime, will use his free will incorrectly, since someone else will suffer from his “freedom”. If we live truly consciously, then we, first of all, should be aware of the consequences of our actions. Having chosen the right path, we do not have to worry about the consequences, since the right path itself always has a beneficial effect on both the individual and society as a whole. When we invest our free will for noble purposes with knowledge, our actions will be positive. Suppose a fair judge will always have a beneficial influence on society - he is a noble and knowledgeable person. A bribed judge undermines the foundations of society and makes virtue dangerous, and crime an easy path to success. Thus, we must be aware of the consequences of our choices, and although we in some sense have the freedom to do wrong, there will always be responsibility for them.
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The path of reason lies in the agreement of the will with virtue. A virtuous character, ennobled by knowledge, always commits actions that do not leave behind the unfair suffering of others. But this should not be idealized. The same judge, pronouncing a fair sentence on a criminal, causes suffering for the criminal and his relatives, but this is a question for both the criminal and his relatives. Their free will led to their own suffering. This suffering is deserved and fair, and therefore the judge should not violate public duty with their pity or selfishness.
Free will in the moral aspect is awareness of the consequences of one’s actions, together with the conscious choice of these consequences in the form of actions. If I choose the right path, the path that does not cause other unnecessary suffering and at the same time brings happiness to me and those around me, saving them from suffering - this is the right path. If, guided by selfish or vicious motives, I indulge my desires and commit crimes, this is the wrong path. Technically, a person is free to choose on his own, but understanding the moral aspect lies only in understanding the consequences of his actions. And this is not even a question of formally avoiding punishment for crimes, but a question of self-awareness: do we live according to our conscience and are we satisfied in our hearts with our actions and life or do we regret them? Everyone is free to choose their own future path. But choosing the right path is always associated with knowledge.
