What’s free about free will?
“Man is a being with free will; therefore, each man is potentially good or evil, and it’s up to him and only him through his reasoning mind to decide which he wants to be.” Ayn Rand, author, philosopher
Free will, the most amazing gift of all, always seems to catch us off guard. Somehow, the best of us seems to forget that whichever our choice, there is a consequence. Sometimes there are wonderful consequences. Other times, it’s like a Huge Hand reaches down and give us a hard smack on the head. Most of the time that happens because our choice is not ruled by reason. Or because evil is often so much easier to find than goodness and is often found in prettier, more tempting packages.
For instance, when U.S. Olympic swimmer Marion Jones used “performance-enhancing drugs”— steroids — to win three gold and two bronze medals in the 2000 Sydney, Australia games, it was at first assumed she was using her free will. In a recent confession, Ms. Jones alleges that her coach was giving her steroids without her knowledge.
However, honest hard working competitors with a great deal to lose strongly object to competing against cheaters no matter how or why they cheated. As unwary victims, they lose their just rewards including deserved prestige, further opportunities and lots of money in the form of paid commercials, product endorsements and other spin offs of their success. All are understandable reasons for their contempt and anger when they are cheated of their just rewards.
What is more frightening is the existence of young high school athletes who may lose their lives imitating their athlete heroes.
Meditation for the Day
“Free will is not the liberty to do whatever one likes, but the power of doing whatever one sees ought to be done, even in the very face of otherwise overwhelming impulse. There lies freedom, indeed.”
Action for the Day
Before I decide on an act, I will consider this: What will be the consequences of my decision — ten minutes from now? Six months from now? Five years from now? If I – and others — can live with the consequences, fine. If not, I will choose a wiser path.
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