Free will I think is greatly overestimated
It is hard for me to see the free will involved when we are born to a particular set of parents, in particular circumstances, and with a very particular genetic code which will condemn us to brilliance, mediocrity, or moronity, and with a temperament that may well govern most of our social interactions. I do not see free will in floods, famines, war and pestilence- perhaps the great leaders have some "free will" in war, but that is not often available to the victims of war. I think it is probably true that the universe is pitiless, blind (to us) and indifferent and that what happens to us is also largely determined. But even so, if we are born into happy circumstances it is good to be happy, and if we are born into sad circumstances, it is probably best to try to see them as happy. Of course my opinion on this matter may be purely determined by who I am, and what has gone before. I've no way of knowing. |
