Reference: The Nature of Consideration
Reference: On Will by Geir Isene
To me, the bottom line is NOTHINGNESS, and that means an absence of all considerations. Thus, there exists infinite choice at the outset. Any limitation on choice will then come from a prior consideration.
Geir defines “will” as “exercise of choices.” Thus, one would start with an infinite “will” and that “will” shall decrease inversely proportional to the number of choices that are made and kept.
“No free will” shall exist when one has chosen to agree completely with the status quo.
“Potential free will” shall be recoverable by as-ising one’s existing choices.
There is free will in this physical universe to the degree one is aware of the laws and principles that are keeping the physical structure there, and one can move within that structure. Ignorance of those laws and principles would limit that free will. As-isness of physical laws and principles is not essential to exercise free will. But knowledge of them is essential. Choices may be made only when there are options.
No option will exist when either nothing has been agreed upon, or everything has been agreed upon.
If everything can be calculated/predicted as per Steven Hawking, then one’s “free willed actions” may be predicted too, putting them in the category of “bound will.”
For “free will” to exist there must be a balance between KNOWABLE and UNKNOWABLE.
Randomness exists not in the universe but in the very idea of free will. The deterministic part is one’s agreements expressed as the universe; the random part is one’s free will.
.
Comments
“Randomness exists not in the universe but in the very idea of free will. The deterministic part is one’s agreements expressed as the universe; the random part is one’s free will.”
I think this is very well written.
LikeLike
“Geir defines “will” as “exercise of choices.” Thus, one would start with an infinite “will” and that “will” shall decrease inversely proportional to the number of choices that are made and kept.”
Vin, this seems curiously proportional and accurate because it describes a “dwindling spiral” of both choices and free will. Exponential in scope, it provides an infinite sliding scale which easily maps onto existing life forms. Example: the slug at the bottom of the cold ocean has what choices? Not many but some, correct? The rich person with unlimited funds has many choices more than the slug but vastly less than “infinite.”
LikeLike
Chris, thanks for the feedback. I always learn more this way. Your observation about the differences among life forms as a result of choices they might have made, is quite enlightening. This is another path to investigate.
.
LikeLike
…and, I have always thought that life-forms were all of the same “cloth.” I have never thought of man as innately different in biology and spirituality than other life forms.
LikeLike
Indeed!
LikeLike