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Determinism, Free Will, Ethics, and
Happiness
by George Ortega
(Originally published in the
March 2004 issue of The Page,
the monthly newsletter of The
Westchester Ethical Culture Society,
White Plains New York.)
Things
are sometimes completely different
than they appear. For thousands of
years everyone was absolutely
convinced that the world was flat,
and that the Sun revolved around the
Earth. We now know better. Virtually
everyone is still absolutely
convinced that human beings have a
"free will," or the ability to
decide what we think, feel and do
without being compelled by outside
forces. After offering a simple
explanation of why free will is
impossible, I'll explain how this
knowledge is helpful both to our
ethical living, and our happiness.
There
is an irrefutable principle in
physics known as "the arrow of
time." Basically it says that
everything always proceeds from the
past, to the present, and to the
future. This principle can, of
course, be applied to the universe
seen as a single entity. Thus, the
state of the universe at one moment
in time leads to, and causes, the
state of the universe during the
next moment in time, ad eternitum
into the future. Seen in terms of
the past, the present state of the
universe is a result and effect of
the state of the universe during the
previous moment, again ad. eternitum
into the past.
Now,
our thoughts, feelings and actions
do not miraculously reside outside
of our universe. So, whatever we
think, feel, or do during one moment
in time is completely determined by
the state of the universe during the
preceding moment. By following this
causal chain back into the past, it
is easy to see that It extends far
beyond even the time we were born,
and so we can conclude that anything
we think, feel or do has been
completely determined by influences
in no way under our control. So much
for free will. (One last point;
uncertainty principles prohibit
PREDICTION of elementary particle
behavior, they do not negate
causality)
So why
is this important? Well firstly we
may want to reflect upon the fact
that we are virtually all prey to
this illusion of free will, and so
we are all completely deluded
regarding the nature of our very own
volition. In other words, we are all
collectively deeply confused.
But
how does this relate to ethics and
happiness. Well, when we believe we
have a free will, we wrongly blame
both ourselves and others for the
wrongs we do, leading to hostility,
wars, etc., and we wrongly take
credit for the good we do, leading
to arrogance and the distance such a
vice places between people.
One
caveat; although understanding that
all we think, feel and do has been
predetermined can help us become
happier by helping us overcome blame
and arrogance, when it comes to our
own immediate conduct it is wise to
act AS IF we have free wills because
in addition to taking joy in
confusing us completely at her whim,
Mother Nature also tends to punish
us for the wrongs we do, and reward
us for the good we do.
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