What is the interplay between fate and free will? Is it possible to influence the fate of others? When have you felt like you had no free will? What is the collective destiny of humanity?
Oh boy. Another big question. Well, for the most part, I don't believe in fate. That is, I don't believe that when you are born, you have a specific destiny about what will happen to you that you can't ever change no matter what you do. I DO believe that certain people are born into certain circumstances that are extremely difficult to rise above. For example, those who are born into extreme poverty. It is extremely difficult to rise above poverty. Poverty is a vicious cycle. Does that mean those who are born into it are necessarily doomed to it for their entire lives? No. Of course, many people do, because it is so close to impossible to break that cycle. But even though it's close, it's not impossible, and I don't believe who will and will not break that cycle is some sort of pre-determined fate.
Even with things that you feel like you have no control over, there is some sort of free will. You can choose how you react, even if only internally.
I know that sounds kind of sketchy, and I'll admit, when I'm really upset or angry, if someone tries to tell me that I can choose how I feel, I tell them to screw themselves. But when you think about, it is true. Again, as with the poverty example, it can be extremely difficult, but you CAN choose to react in a positive way.
As for whether it's possible to influence the fate of others...well, in the sense that I don't exactly agree with the idea of fate, my answer would have to be no. However, I think it is possible to influence the ultimate life path someone has, whether that is a path that they consciously choose or not. Society influences people's "fates" all the time. Returning to my poverty example: the person who is born into poverty and spends their whole life in poverty has had their life path influenced by various external conditions over which they had no or little control. Because they were born into poverty, they more than likely had less educational opportunities than their wealthier peers. That lack of educational opportunity is something that will influence their ultimate life path. Since they have had less educational opportunities, their job opportunities are slimmer, and they are more likely to continue the cycle of poverty. So there is an example of situations influencing life paths, or "fates".
And individual people of course can influence others lives, too. We hear stories all the time about special teachers, mentors, or friends who have "made me who I am today." These people influenced the other so strongly that they helped to define their life path.
When I was younger, in the whole rebellious, "my way or the highway," early teen years, I often felt that there were times when I had no choice. I (over-dramatically) would exclaim that I could never have things my way. But of course, that's not true. I chose what to wear, what music to listen to, and of course, how to react to my situations.
That being said, I don't think that there has ever truly been a time when I've had no free will. There have been times when I've felt completely helpless, times where I've felt like I had no power to change something that had happened, but I think that is different than free will.
"The collective destiny of humanity." hmmmm. I don't think anyone can every truly know. I think we are here on Earth to help others. I know that helping other people is most definitely my life purpose. I feel like that's what everyone's life should be about, in a way. Everyone of course has their own way of helping others. As a future teacher, I'll be helping educate youth. The humanitarian aid workers in devastated regions, such as Darfur, have a completely different way of helping people, but they are helping people. Doctors help people in yet another way. Waitresses, bus drivers, mail-deliverers, farmers, social workers, babysitters, most any job you can think of, is helping SOMEONE in SOME way. And I think that's our destiny. Of course, too many people abuse their power, or don't see how they can help people, or don't want to help. But in any case, I think our destiny is to help eachother, to grow the human race into a more compassionate, more empathetic group. A secondary sort of destiny may be to gain knowledge. Although I don't necessarily think our destiny is to just gain as much knowledge about as many subjects as possible. There are certain types of knowledge. Philosophical knowledge. Social knowledge. The knowledge of new ways of helping others. Enlightenment. Those sorts of subjects are the ones we are destined to gain. And then, according to my own personal beliefs as described in my previous blog entry, we will one day be in heaven, where we will act as guardians to the living.
So. Those are my thoughts so far for this question. I'd love to hear your own thoughts in the comments!
-Beth
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