The
term free will belongs to the philosophers.
For centuries philosophers debated whether we, human beings have free
will and got nowhere. They have only
agreed to disagree. Hence, this has
become an evergreen question without a convincing answer. This is mainly because success in carrying
out our wish depends in part on factors beyond our control.
Bheeshmapitamaha,
a character in Mahabharata, was the only one who could claim that he had
controls over his will. The ultimate
test to prove this was he died at the time of his choice. True freedom of the will involves liberation
from desires. A person with sugar
complaint scrupulously avoid sweets, but we cannot consider this as an example
of free will for this action (avoiding sweets) is based on the fear factor of
bad health otherwise one has to suffer.
Most
philosophers suppose that a concept of free will is closely connected to the
concept of moral responsibility. But
significance of free will is not exhausted by its connection to moral
responsibility. Our own experience says
that success in carrying out our wish depends (atleast) in part on factors
wholly beyond our control. Though we
cannot see or explain the external constraints.
Philosopher
Rene Descartes identify the faculty of will with freedom of choice and he says
that will by its very nature so free that it can never be constrained. Philosophers may explain or describe free
will in any way, but our practical experience say otherwise. A strong willed person can only achieve a
limited success.
If
we all have free will we could make this earth a better place to live in,
No……?
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