What would the world be like if no one told us what it is like? This is not as absurd a question as it might seem. What would things be like if we had to discover everything by ourselves. If no conventional wisdom existed, if no one had theories, if no one told, taught, dictated or ordered. Quite unimaginable isn't it?
We are a society you say. We are curious, we ask, we learn, we have an innate need to spread knowledge, spread the word. All this is true, and may even be the answer to why conventional wisdom exists. But what if it didn't?
What if everyday was a discovery unto oneself? What if no appropriate feelings or words existed, but the ones we utter? What if?
It would definitely not be a functional world. No civilization would exist, no society and no greatness. We would be like animals I guess (I don't know of course, but maybe). Its just a state of mind we can imagine ourselves in. Imagine us as free from all rules, all theories. There is nothing but our minds.
I wonder if in such a case, I would have the potential to figure things out for myself. To understand that there is a force that pulls me to the earth. To figure out words and communication. I wonder if all that knowledge is even necessary for me to have a fulfilling life. This is all a fantasy, but one that is unusually freeing for my mind.
I mention this just to illustrate the power others' thoughts have on our existence. We live and die by others principles. We fight for others' beliefs, we kill for the appeasement of others. Wars are fought on the dictates of others. Peace is sought for the happiness of others.
This is not however a correct representation of our lives. Free will is what separates us from just becoming other people's playthings. We make a choice to believe. We make a choice to agree, to dissent, to love and hate. What is still ours is our ability to analyze and understand others' thoughts.
You must therefore understand that though we are indebted to others' lives for our daily wisdom, we are ultimately responsible for our actions resulting from it. We cannot be sheep, we cannot just follow. Even if we rely on others' work, we must take the responsibility to make our own choice.
7 comments:
Personally, I think the concept of "Free Will" doesn't exist in theory. There are things outside of our consideration (conscious or subconscious) that always influence any final decision we take. Well written piece DP, but I am stupidly incoherent today and can't make much sense in my comments. :( It's one of those days!
whatever drives us to our choices is irrelevant as compared to our choice... we must consciously or subconsciously weigh pros and cons, make moral decisions before making that choice... our moral dictates or virtues comprise our person.. we are responsible for what we believe... even if it was dictated to us by society or family... it does come down to our own will... and even the submission of this will is still our decision leading to the paradox of the existence of free will...
things r the way they r because everything else is a hypothesis...pretty cool statement huh :P ?
abba dabba jhabba!!
hehehe
if there was no conventional wisdom - we wudn;t have to pay federal taxes - which is taking up most of my weekends :(
Nice post.
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