We Are Not the Pilot, We Are the Plane
Since the 5th century BCE, a guy named Parmenides had already proposed the Earth wasn't flat based on the observation that the North Star appears lower in the sky as one travels south. However, it took thousands of years for most people to accept that the Earth is round. According to the internet, some still don't believe it even today.
The delay in people accepting this truth stems from various factors. The main one is that it goes against our intuitive senses. When we look around, the Earth appears flat. But from Parmenides's observations to the photo that the Apollo 17 crew took in 1976 of the Earth floating in space, science has shown that the Earth is round regardless of how one feels about it.
Another illusion that the Greeks have been talking about since Heraclitus' time, which science has also confirmed as an illusion, is the illusion that humans have free will. Most of us still firmly believe we are responsible for the decisions we make daily, but in reality, every choice is influenced by factors outside our control:
- How our neurons were connected during our time in the womb.
- The levels of corticosteroid and adrenaline in our mother's blood during gestation.
- Whether our parents had any addictions, too much stress, or if we grew up in a safe environment.
- The places and experiences we encounter during childhood and adolescence…
Whether we decide to forgo a marshmallow now to eat two later was pre-defined during our upbringing, depending on whether we were raised in a family with a perception of abundance or scarcity.
Although scientists like Benjamin Libet, Daniel Dennett, and Robert Sapolsky have demonstrated brain activity signaling a decision takes place before we're consciously aware of making the decision, many people still believe in free will and its subsequent idea: meritocracy, the faith that assumes everyone has the same conditions to choose between options.
Part of this belief is reinforced because our ego desires credit for our life's achievements. "I studied for so many years to get a degree - so everyone can.", "I gave up the addiction I had - so everyone can."
We remain oblivious that we didn't decide the neurotransmitter levels in our brain, influencing decisions such as delayed gratification or changing to marry someone instead of buying a bike.
We don't decide which genes are inherited from our parents, and they dictate various aspects of our character, temperaments, and life choices. And specific genes predispose individuals to be more prone to different behaviors.
We also didn't decide our cultural backgrounds or upbringing, which heavily influences our decisions - the epigenetics part. If someone was born with genes predisposing them to become addicted, different upbringings mean the difference between them being someone who steals to buy heroin or someone who can't go a week without drinking with friends.
From the ancient philosophies of Parmenides to modern neuroscientific studies by figures like Benjamin Libet, how we perceive our world and ourselves has been constantly challenged. While our intuitive senses might suggest the Earth is flat or that we possess free will, evidence suggests otherwise.
Initially, we all believed the Earth was the universe's center, as it appealed to our senses and gave us a unique cosmic significance. However, we eventually learned the truth. While some resisted, today, most accept it.
Next, we felt we were crafted in a god's image because it also provided us with another form of special status. Then Darwin's theories emerged, revealing another truth. Some resisted, but nowadays, most people accept this.
Currently, many still think the universal laws of cause and effect don't apply inside our brains. They hold onto the idea they can dictate their choices because it aligns with their perceptions and also offers a sense of self.
Both history and science underscore that our decisions are not just a result of free choice but are influenced by factors beyond our control, from our genetic makeup to our upbringing. It only feels like we are deciding.
You are choosing things in life in the same way you decide how to digest your food or secrete your hormones: your body is doing it for you.
The illusion of free will is just that - an illusion.
Recognizing these complexities reshapes our understanding of choice and responsibility and invites greater compassion and empathy toward others and their decisions.
The steering wheel in front of you on the roller coaster ride is a fake one. Let go of it and enjoy the ride.
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