"See, I have set before you life and goodness, and death and evil... Life and death I have set before you, blessing and curse... And you shall choose life..." (Deuteronomy 30:15-19). These three sentences represent three dimensions of choice -- compelled choice, random choice, and essential choice
6 Comments Posted
I just wanted to comment on this wonderful article.
It taught me so much and opened my eyes to things I had felt but wasn't able to discribe in words.
With G-d's help I hope to continue to read these articles and learn more beauty that lies in the Torah.
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The problems with this discussion:
1. (B) is not a choice at all. Random choice is an oxymorone.
2. If (C) is a choice made by one's essence (which is unchangeable) than it is not a free choice. If a Jew was able to make a choice based on his Yechida's urge, he would NEVER sin. A Jew has no choice but not to sin, unless tricked by ruach shtus.
3. If we consider that (C) is a choice made *based* on opportunity to reveal and pursue one's true essence and purpose (i.e., by chosing *this*, I will reveal my essence and purpose more), than there is no difference between (A) and (C). E.g.: one's essential desire is to keep living. In order to live one must eat. Therefore, I pick a bigger apple, b/c it is a better way to fulfil this ESSENTIAL desire, not because the bigger apple picks me. Therefore, no difference b/w (A) and (C).
So, (B) is not a choice, (C) is either not a free choice or identical to (A).
By the way, choice "tricked" by ruach shtus is still the "essence's" choice.
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You have rejected all the possibilites of what free choice is, yet you have not given any alternative! The point is that free choice means a choice that is not compelled by an outside force. It is obvious that a choice that is brought about through an outside force is not your own "free choice" i.e. your choice free of outside influences/ outside forces. Thus free choice is the choice of the essense of a thing when it is unhindered by anything outside of it. Who said that free choice means a choice that is changing or subject to time and space? That's exactly the opposite of free choice.
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To Anonymous from Ra'anana. An alternative: a person sees $1 and $100. No other factors in equation. His desire to chose $100 is bigger, obviously. But he choses $1. Again, no other factors in the equation -- nobody asks him to do, he doesn't want to do it just to prove a point, it's not a random decision, etc.
You will say, this decision makes no sense. But, this "sense" is what was making the decision not free.
The reason why I did not offer an alternative to free choice is that this idea makes no sense to me personally, and I don't see how it can take place in this world. But, that's OK, because I cannot also see how many things that Torah says are true can happen in this world, the way I know it.
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I think "Anonymous, Boston, MA" makes a very valid point, I'd like to see the author's response to it.
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Why are we talking about free 'choice' when my question is about free 'will'?
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