There is no definitive evidence proving that we have free will, just as there is no definitive evidence proving that we do not. In the absence of certainty, one can simply choose the theory that resonates most.
My view is that we possess some free will, but much of our behavior is shaped by genetics, subconscious drives, family conditioning, and societal influences.
To access true free will, the mind must be fully present, and the nervous system must be in a relaxed state—not hijacked by anxiety, fear, or instinctual reactivity. Only in a state of calm awareness do we gain the ability to consciously choose, rather than simply react.
Free Will, the Universe, and the Illusion of Absolutes
There were once two philosophers who unequivocally argued that humans have no free will whatsoever.
But to claim absolute determinism is to overlook the subtle moments where choice does, in fact, emerge. While much of human behavior is governed by conditioning, subconscious patterns, and biological drives, there are brief, spontaneous moments—gaps in the program—where true free will appears.
Even within the laws of physics and causality, the universe itself allows for uncertainty, adaptation, and divergence. Human consciousness, too, operates within this paradox—both shaped by forces beyond its control and yet capable of self-awareness, reflection, and change.
To say we have no free will at all is to deny the very experience of making a choice.
These two great thinkers are simply mistaken in believing that learning, meditation, and practice do not bear fruit—that our free will is nearly nonexistent.
Yes, our free will is limited, but it is not absent. We experience brief moments of choice throughout the day, but inevitably, we drift back into subconscious motivations—the conditioned patterns of the mind. We slip into habit, into reaction, into the hypnotic state of reality as we know it.
When anxiety takes over, the sympathetic nervous system dominates, driving us into fight-or-flight, into old instincts, into unconscious behavior. But in between, in those fleeting moments, we exercise choice.
There are spontaneous decisions, unconnected to past patterns—moments of true free will.
The Universe as a Mirror of the Mind
This interplay between predetermined conditions and spontaneous possibility is the same force that governs the expansion of the universe.
From its first moment, the universe contained all the essential elements for its unfolding—heat, cooling, matter, forces, time. Everything was set in motion, but what happens next remains uncertain.
Yes, the universe is on a path.
Yes, there are governing laws.
But infinite variables exist.
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A sudden event could heat up a cooling universe.
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The Earth’s moon could be knocked out of orbit, shifting the planet’s tilt, wiping out life.
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Forces at work could redirect the entire course of existence.
The same principle applies to human consciousness.
We are born into a genetic blueprint, shaped by forces beyond our control. Yet within that structure, spontaneous moments emerge—moments that break free from instinct and allow for true choice.
In this sense, intelligence itself is what creates spontaneity—for without awareness, all that exists is instinct.
The Illusion of Binary Thinking
A fundamental mistake people make is believing that reality exists in either/or terms.
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It is either here or there.
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It is either alive or dead.
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It is either hot or cold.
This is an illusion. The true nature of reality dissolves such rigid distinctions.
Through practice and meditation, we begin to see beyond duality. We stop saying:
"It is either short or tall."
Instead, we say:
"It is both short and tall—depending on the perspective."
For example, something only appears "short" because I am taller than it. Another observer, smaller than both of us, may see that same thing as tall.
So is it short? Is it tall? It depends.
From the perspective of the universe, it is both.
Why This Matters
We are conditioned to judge everything, because judgment is tied to survival.
But our judgments are often wrong, shaped not by truth but by anxiety, past trauma, and limited perception.
To transcend this, we must practice seeing things as they truly are—not as rigid categories, but as fluid, ever-changing realities.
This may be a thought path to clarity.