FREEWILL

The concept of freewill is related to the simple question: When we decide to do something – especially when it is a choice between two alternatives – do we do it on our own, or are we forced (knowingly or unknowingly) to take that decision? Religionists, philosophers, psychologists, neuroscientists, and others have (had) different opinions on the matter. 

Though most of us think we take decisions on our own, many have argued (and some scientists think they have proved) that there are hidden factors of which we have no idea and over which we have no control. Others disagree.

Whatever we think or do is governed by (a) Factors over which we have very little knowledge or control. (b) Factors over which we feel we have at least some control.  We can do very little about (a). We can do a lot about  (b). Most often it is a combination of the two. You may  send me questions because I request you to send a question. But the particular question you send is your own choice.

What often matters is not so much what we believe in, but on what we do and how we behave with our belief.  A person may think he/she has no control over his/her actions and commit a crime. The belief may be right, but the action is wrong because it was hurtful. Another person may think he/she has freewill and help a fellow human being. The belief may be wrong but the action was good because it had a positive impact on another human being.

Once a bank robber who was caught told the judge in the court: “Your Honor, I had no control over my action. I don’t believe humans have free-will.” The judge said: “I am putting you in prison for ten years. I am not giving you this punishment out of my freewill, but because I have no control over this punishment that I am giving you.

For my part I choose to believe I have freewill because I am forced into that belief by so many factors 🙂