Absolute Freedom: Just a Myth?

Friedrich Nietzsche, an 18th century German philosopher proposed a very important mind exercise. In exploring his account of the "Myth of the eternal recurrence of the same", we are asked a simple question: What if at the end of our lives we are asked to re-live it over and over again, exactly the same way down to every last detail, how would we respond?

Not many of us would be thrilled I imagine. There are mistakes we would not like to repeat, situations in which we would not like to find ourselves again, and most of us would wish for much better life experiences than we have already had. At the end our lives many of us will look back in regret over things we have done or could have done; things we said or could have said, etc.

My first question is, "How can we live, now, lives that we would be thrilled to re-live if afforded the opportunity? I ask you now to imagine what you would consider a perfect life - what do you see? (Wealth? health? happiness? power?) Now, is this life you have imagined, with all your conditions, attainable? How much control do we have over the factors integral to shaping this "perfect life"?

It is easy to dream; to envision the type of life you want to live. Here is the real kicker, how do you get it? Do you just "go for it"? And what exactly does that mean- to go for it? It is easier said than done. Most people will tell you that you are the only thing that stands between you and your dreams. But that is not always true. A lot of times, there are influences beyond our control that limit what we can and cannot do.

"Go for it." By any means necessary? At what cost? How much of who you are will you have to compromise to achieve your goals? Will you truly be happy and satisfied on achieving said goals? Some of us know what we want but are unsure how to go about getting it. Are we to blame ourselves? Are we just not taking enough control over our lives? Are we just not working hard enough? And perhaps the most important question, are we not exercising to its full extent, our "will to power”? i.e., do we not, according to Nietzsche, exist on our own terms?

Based on our already lived experiences, it would seem that much of our actions, decisions and thoughts are beyond our control. Sometimes we say “I dunno what happened back there, I couldn't help myself." It seems we are not always in control when we make various choices that affect us and even those around us. Why then are we held responsible for our failures or successes in life? Well, it is mostly because many have adopted Nietzsche’s libertarian position on the matter that we are absolutely free to choose in what direction our lives will go.

But are we really? Why then would anyone willfully live in poverty? To what extent can we control the impact our environment (society?) has on us and the decisions we make? It does seem like we do not have much control over that as we are constantly trying to conform, most afraid of standing out. To what extent can we control the impact of social problems like say, racial stereotypes, which place limitations on our lives? Are we really all that free to choose to be happy?

I suppose we can only try. To a large extent, we are really helpless. Every morning when we wake up, the optimists among us say, “This will be a better day!” and the pessimists brace themselves for the worst. Who is right and who is wrong? Are we fated or can we truly, of our own freewill, effect changes to shape our lives the way we want. The more questions I have, the less answers I have, it seems. Just as well, we can never truly reach absolute truths when the questions are grounded in our nature.

Great minds of ages past could not provide answers, free of criticisms, about this life, the nature of man, and how much control is available to man over his own life. Who am I to pretend to understand? I have reached one conclusion though - Everyday I will wake up and "try". Try to understand not life but my options and the factors that I CAN control. I will try to, despite external influences beyond me, shape a life I would be both proud and happy enough to live over and over again.

Naked Evil

Man is so wicked. God, how do You do it? How do You restrain yourself from smiting this wicked generation? We deserve whatever punishment we get. We are not worthy of the mercies we receive. Brothers killing brothers; Fathers selling daughters; friends betraying friends, and perhaps the most abominable of all, the powerful crushing the helpless. Man, look at yourself and see what you have become!

We are no better than animals. The death of one is no longer cause for shock. The death of a thousand meriting only a passing acknowledgement. Indeed, look at yourself! You say you have come a long way since the caves. You claim you are civilized. Ha! Barely. The cheek of you to even think of calling yourself that! You have no respect for human life. You are deaf to the voices of children crying out in anguish. Why do you look away, you bloody coward? Look them in the eyes, the young ones. Watch them closely as they draw their last breaths. It is, after all, all of your making. Are you proud?

You wage war from east to west. You will not rest until you have destroyed all that is in your path. You agent of chaos! Are you pleased when mothers run through the streets of the city of fire searching for their children? Does it make your day knowing that the frightened child who had no part in the cause of your war is bleeding, crying and dying? He cannot move and he cannot cry out much louder. His mother cannot hear him and she will not find him. He will die wondering what he did wrong. A few blocks away from him, your bomb has also killed young love. They were going to work hard and raise a beautiful family. But you had other plans for them, did you not? You and you war!

The rivers are red with innocent blood. For the greed of man, many suffer. For the thirst for power, many are sacrificed. Why are we so wicked? Why can't we see that we only destroy ourselves when we give into the urge to destroy others? We have ceased to care. The headline says "Mourn, people, mourn. Ten million are dead!". "My family was not one of them" says one; "They probably deserved it" says another. Would you feel differently if it was your mother, your father, your son, or your daughter? How about if you met the family of just ONE of the millions and they told you how they watched their son die? Would you care then? Does it bother you that most of these unfortunate ones die confused? They don't know why they are caught in the heat of things; Why THEY must be sacrificed. For the ambitions of another man?

Ask yourself why you are so wicked. Why is man the way he is? Why are we still wild animals, killing without concern? "Haha, there goes an unsuspecting one! Let us surprise him with an atomic bomb. Let us subject his descendants to genetic mutations that will cause their peers to jeer at them!" CHAI!!! Man why are you so wicked? How did we get to the point where very little offends our senses? How did we get to the point where we would have a child watch as his parents are murdered before him in cold blood?

We will not last much longer this way. It is very clear we are self destruct. It is only a matter of time now. So, carry on wicked man! Time is running out. Carry on with your looting and killing but know this - A day will come when you will have destroyed it all. You will be left standing alone, carrying all your precious stones, blood money and oil in your arms. Suddenly you will see another man with HIS treasures. Your greed will burn through your soul and you will throw yourself at him to take what is his. Foolish wicked man! The river will swallow you up; there will be no saving you!