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Free will is a paradox and that’s why life is easier than we think
“We have been told that man is the only animal that knows nothing, and can learn nothing without being taught. He can neither speak nor walk nor eat nor do anything at the prompting of nature except weep.”
This quote came from Og Mandino’s novel, The Choice. At this point in the book, the main character, Mark, is delivering a speech at Yankee Stadium but he’s sort of winging it. It’s as if another intelligence has taken over and speaking through him.
The goal of his speech is to illustrate how one can have a better life. But to do this, he has to remind his audience that life is painful and that if God made humans and gave them dominion over the Earth, why are they the most tortured people on the planet?
The answer is a good one: choice. But you probably saw that coming given the title of the book.
We all have a choice to make to choose a better life, and those of us who live lives that are less than ideal are simply unaware that we have access to choices. Overall, is he wrong? Yes and no.
I’d like to point out that this was/is one of my favorite books because when I first read it, it gave me a message that I needed to hear. There are various choices and I just need to choose the one that will lead me in the direction and to the…
