I think when exploring "free will" that we logically need to get away from any mechanistic view, natural, spiritual or otherwise.
Think of the "mouse trap" game, or dominoes hitting one another, the end result is due to mechanistic processes. You set in motion the first event and everything else will follow. On the other hand, "consciousness" has a very different feel to inanimate objects found in a mechanistic processes.
For example, let's consider the mouse trap analogy. Let's say you hit the bucket, which tips over letting the ball out, which then rolls down a slide, hits another trigger that releases another ball, which falls through a hole landing upon one end of seesaw which propels an object into a container making a cage fall upon the mouse below (
see video). Now, are decisions and/or actions made by our consciousness like that -- the falling of the mouse trap cage?
Some, many in fact, advocating physical mechanistic worldview, believe conciousness IS mechanistic. It is often believed that all parts collectively working together are somehow able to give off "conciousness", although exactly what and why such consciousness arises is left largely unexplained. Yet, then, while we might be
consciously aware, does consciousness have the ability to affect the mechanistic processes? How? Unless within the mechanistic processes, consciousness itself has the ability at some point to rise above its mechanistic influences to do other than would otherwise happen. Yet, if the mechanistic processes are really all there ultimately is, then how can consciousness rise above such? It can't, everything is ultimately determined by the mechanics.
Consider, for example, the cage falling at the end to trap the mouse. Now, if "free will" was really had, then while there are mechanistic pressures to "just fall on top of the mouse" -- what if the cage was conscious? It might think, "
Hey, I don't want to fall and trap that poor little mouse!" Yet, perhaps it lacks the power of will to stop itself from falling onto the mouse. It lacks the freedom to do otherwise. If we push matters further, it's ability to even have the thought, "
Hey, I don't want to fall and trap that poor little mouse!" is itself determined by mechanical processes, even if it then falls to trap the mouse.
On the other hand, true consciousness with an actionable will would have the ability to influence the mechanical processes. Perhaps the cage does have the power to stop itself from falling. So, if it decides I don't want to fall, it can rise above the mechanical processes (natural inclinations) to do other than what the mechanical pressures alone would otherwise determine.
We naturally want to know how things work, what makes this and that tick, especially in our modern scientific age. What then are the mechanical workings of consciousness? What are the things in consciousness that "make it tick", allow for true "free will" to develop? Yet, we can't dismantle and understand consciousness and free will like we do a watch. Free will, can't be defined in a mechanical way, because it is fundamentally NOT a mechanical process but something other. If it exists, then it is something that stands apart from the physical order, entwined even closely alongside the physical and mechanical processes of the world that we all grow so familiar with.
Interestingly, if one sees who we are, our very conscious being, as being primarily determined by mechanical processes physical, spiritual or otherwise, then evidently, one will accept that things like sexual preferences, psychopaths, murderers and even terrorists, such should be understood rather than necessarily condemned. For, they're as much victims of whatever mechanical processes made "them", or even how God Himself made them! We would be no different in their shoes, right? So then, understanding and tolerance is better than judgement and condemnation.
Sounds good in theory, but then, do we seriously believe noone is truly responsible for their own actions? It is safe to say such goes against our basic intuitions. Rather, if we are free beings, then we are free indeed to make choices. And if we are free indeed, then we each have responsibilities regardless of the natural "mechanical" pressures upon us. It will be no argument on D-Day to accuse God saying, "
You made me this way!" or "Look at the environment YOU placed me within!" or "
Look, I had this gene and that gene!" In fact, I believe Jesus tackles these very issue in HIs parable of talents:
- 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
It seems to me, according to Jesus' teachings, God knows each and all of our limits. Indeed, our free will is thwarted to many degrees, some have more freedom to do what is good and right, others much, much less.
Yet, we as Christians believe Christ came to set us free, came to empower us to live and love like God which aligns with what many of us as Christians truly want (even if we often fail in this life). Christ came to set us free from our natural even mechanistic selves, if we so desire, to be that who we truly spiritually want to be. This can be had now, and will had fully hereafter. Such is what the Apostle Paul teaches of our two natures.
We can put this in more positive Scriptural terms, some have more talents (and therefore responsibilities) in the life that we live than others. How ironic people in their fallen state think God wants to take away our freedom. No, God wants to encourage us in righteousness as the fully free beings we were created to be, and to enter into a mutually loving relationship on offer to us with Himself.
