Funny how time seems to work, somedays there seems to be too much of it and then there are times that it's gone in the blink of an eye!
Been in the crazy process of preparing for a big move across the country to Los Angeles! I'll be making said trek with my beautiful girlfriend... so let's hope she doesn't get sick of me too quickly. Though between now and my move, my blogging will continue to be sporadic, I promise to have constant updates once I move. This is mainly for those people interested what life on the West Coast is like... and those people I refer to are my friends and family, but hopefully my readers (because I know there are so many of them) will take interest too!
Enough with my excuses and rambling.... let's get to some thoughts of mine.
I believe in my last blog or one of them, I was talking about my excitement to read Stephen Hawking's new book, The Grand Design. Well I am still working on it... it's very intense in terms of theories and even scientific talk... but no so much that it doesn't make sense, I just need to take it slow. Which is a big change for me, because I tend to be a speed reader... I plow through books like they are lines of cocaine. (No, I do not do coke.) It's nice to read this a little slower too, because I get to reflect on the thoughts and theories.
The most recent chapter I read had to do with the idea of God his power over man, freewill, and the relationship between the two. It talked about how God has all these laws that man follows, which Hawking goes on to say are essentially the laws of nature. The reasons why things are, continue to be, and forever will be. He goes on to talk about the fact that nature follows these laws 100% of the time... everything that happens and that event's reaction are all consistent with these laws. Then he goes on to say how the one thing everyone has agreed upon throughout time, which is the exception to all the rules both nature and religion alike, is man's freewill. Man's decisions, urges, and choices are not confined to the parameters of the universe or God. Religion has an easy answer for this, simply God wanted man to have freewill to find his own way.
But if really if you think about it, how is that possible? If God has a plan for everyone, how can they deviate off that plan? Hence no freewill, correct? Many will still argue no, God does have a plan for us all, but the choices that lead us to that point are up to the person. Basically, there are many roads to one outcome, hence people choose how they reach God's plan.... but in order for his plan to play out fully, there can only be so many paths. So there is no real freewill that is truly free...just freewill that is controlled. Doesn't seem to really make sense.... If God's plan for someone is they will become a doctor, but at the age of 17 they become a heroine addict... well, you get the point.
But even beyond religion, the question of freewill and the human mind is still a puzzle that no one seems to fully see the answer to. Hawking goes on to talk about something I truly found astonishing, and as really had be wondering a lot....
Each person has their own personality, which is part of their soul and their spirit and mind. A person's brain, is literally what we are. A mush of cells and flesh that has immense power to create electricity and have thoughts. It works in collaboration with the rest of our bodies, our eyes just tunnel information to our brain which digests it and tells us what we are seeing. In a way, the world around us that we see is our mind's projection of the world. Yes, it is really there, I'm not saying the world is a film being projected to us as an illusion. But think about how some people see colors different, it's just how their mind projects the world... or people that have dyslexia, their minds project words the wrong way... you catch my drift? So if our bodies work within the laws of nature, does freewill really exist? What is freewill? The choice to do this or that? Say that instead of this? Punch someone or high five them? Scream or Laugh? Jump or sit?
Here is what Hawking basically said....
There was a test done on voluntary subjects, where they underwent brain surgery. They were awake during the whole process, and what the scientists did was cut into a certain part of the brain and then would send waves of electricity into certain areas at different voltages and see what the patients said. The came to learn that by doing this, simply zapping the brain they could create urges to move the arm, the leg, to laugh, to say something, etc. So suddenly these "urges" are no longer of our freewill, but of electricity in our brains causing them to happen... so do these electric charges occur as part of the laws of nature or do we really control them? He does not give an answer for this, but is simply stating the question.
Sit on that for awhile and see what you decide. I still can't quite grasp it... because it seems very odd and even terrifying (not having the control) that right now me typing this and saying this and thinking this is not my choice but a reaction in my brain that causes it to happen.
(This is usually the part in the cartoon where my head literally explodes because of the paradox just presented)
With that all said, it's a really great book and there is so much more to talk about, and I promise I will try to write more often. I suggest you read it if you can. I know people say it's trying to prove God doesn't exist, that isn't the case. It's simply trying to get an alternate thought process to the universe and life... something religion has done for others it's entire existence! Don't be a hypocrite!
Also, side note.... the Washington Redskins are now at 4-3 for the season, which means they only need one more win to beat their wins from last season! As long as that happens (which it will) I will consider this season a success, now that we are on the right track with coaches and players to playing like a true champion team! They need to work a lot of their offense, but thank the stars for their defense! GO SKINS!
Alright, enough for tonight....until next time, enjoy!
