Freewill

"I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, still look before they cross the road."  -STEPHEN HAWKING

The philosophical term “free will” is one of the most pondered and debated concepts human beings face throughout our life.   You don’t need to have a library full of Plato and Socrates to be familiar with the concept of free will.  Most of us have a general idea of what it's all about and many more of us are quick to say we believe in it.   We’re attracted to the idea of having freedom over our own lives.  The suggestion that our own “fate” or “destiny” is actually predetermined is far less appealing and a little bit scary.  So instead, many of us decide at some point in our lives to put our brains on autopilot and make our own paths as we go. 

This brings me to the Canadian rock band, Rush.  One of Rush’s most recognized songs was released in January of 1980, with the simple title: Freewill.  

Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for Rush, was heavily influenced by Ayn Rand’s philosophy of objectivism, an idea that draws a lot of ideas from the perception of free will.  That influence was reflected a lot in his lyrics throughout the 70s and still remains there today. 

I’ve heard a lot of people refer to this song as an “atheist anthem”, although personally I’ve always taken the lyrics to simply be a debate of free will vs. destiny. 

"A planet of playthings, we dance on the strings

Of powers we cannot perceive” 

To me, this line is a reflection towards people who feel like they don’t have any control over the outcome of their own life.  They consider themselves merely characters in a lifelong puppet play.  Whether from cultural influences or perhaps religious reasons, these are the people who believe their lives are predetermined from the very beginning. 

“You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.”

This is by far my favorite line in the song.  Decisions and choices are obviously an inevitable part of life and whether we realize it or not, we all have the power to make our own choices.  Some may choose to trust in a god or "celestial voice", others may choose to trust in a person or an idea.  Though, at some point along the way, we all put our faith in something.  It's the force that keeps us going.  Many of us choose religion, some of us choose knowledge, many of us choose ourselves. 

However, regardless of the choices we make, my whole interpretation of the song is that we have the ability to choose our own path; and with that ability to choose comes the power to change the path as we go along.

“Life is a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism; the way you play it is free will.”    -JAWAHARLAL NEHRU 

There are those who think that life is nothing left to chance,
A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance.

A planet of playthings,
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot perceive.
"The stars aren't aligned
Or the gods are malign"-
Blame is better to give than receive.

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill;
I will choose a path that's clear-
I will choose Free Will.

There are those who think that they were dealt a losing hand,
The cards were stacked against them- they weren't born in lotus-land.

All preordained-
A prisoner in chains-
A victim of venomous fate.
Kicked in the face,
You can't pray for a place
In heaven's unearthly estate.

(chorus)

Each of us
A cell of awareness
Imperfect and incomplete.
Genetic blends
With uncertain ends
On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet.