Choosing The Path
of Least Resistance.

Life, like computers- is complex... Any attempt to solve the timeless riddles, or breach the sacred secrets is difficult and will be met with resistance. There is magic at work in the hearts of man and machines. The components involved in the interpretation of input and the generation of output are so intricate, that any surface evaluation will fail to accurately model them. As humans we must believe in ourselves and in our ability make the right choice. Failure to take responsibility for our actions results in a helplessness that we may be assured does not help humanity move forward. Thus we presume to believe that in spite of forces acting outside of our influence, we are fundamentally in control of our actions, in possession of free will. Does "free will" exist? Free will is the ability to make choices unfettered by external influence. It is the capacity for moral or logical resistance to instinct, gratuitous desire and cultural expectations. The question of free will versus determinism is something of a paradox because a decision can not manifest without presenting, in itself, an external influence. The uncertainty principle doesn't allow us to know anything exactly, just as empirical science dictates: a phenomenon can not be observed without, by observing- affecting it. Imagine scientific pontification ad-infinitum and boundless technical reference to a fascinating hierarchy, whereby theories are stacked upon stacks of stacks to the convoluted end of re-enforcing the foundation of these beliefs with towers stretching heavenward… The past, comprised of evolution and personal experience, is the program individuals run. As skeptically indeterminate machines, people interact in society. To better survive we improve our condition by adapting to the environment. The versatility of our physiology has brought human evolution beyond the animals generational genetic upgrades. With the increasing pace of technology, we have ceased to evolve physically and begun adapting the environment to us. "It is sadly antagonistic to assume that man can stand defiant in the face of nurturing nature and build walls against her." This is the core of arguments in opposition to technological advance. It bears no relevance, not in the face of an ants instinct to tunnel or birds building shelter. Opposing forces are natures way of spinning tension into the web of life. Without energy (in contemporary reference, electricity) transfer there would be no physics, nor life as we know it. Given the stature towards which humanity strives, we often find ourselves in a position to direct nature. We have a unique opportunity to choose the path along which our forces will be directed. The meaning of this is told in an old story: life’s struggle, the battle between good and evil. When the consequences of our actions are positive, the actor is likely to take credit for the act. At times when, in spite of conscious awareness of wrong, one takes action that can, or does have negative results- the actor is more inclined to blame weakness, or events outside the individuals control. Advocates of determinism seek to justify human error. When a computer makes a mistake, the machine can not be blamed for generating the wrong output. The program is at fault for failing to process the input that caused the error. It is ironic that we consider our consciousness so distinct from digital logic. When a delinquent breaks the law, the flesh is not to blame, upbringing is the culprit. Humans and computers must be programmed in order to function. A person has the advantage of instinct hard-coded into his or her genetics, not unlike more advanced computers are built with better processors and more efficient logical structures. Computers are programmed, they receive input- they output. Computers do not have free will. Humans are programmed (by evolution and personal experience), they receive input- they output. Do we have free will? Information is an allegory. A computer’s memory is a metaphor for human memory. However, the map is not the terrain. The esoteric nature of philosophic speculation is such that any miracle described must first be compressed and distorted by expression. What remains is the power of myth: the common bond all people share by running on the same hardware (and within cultural enclaves, very similar software). The mind of all people is a network. The environment is what we have molded it into, what we believe. We share our world with one another and despite the vain affinity for individuality, we are all very deeply connected. Computers are undeniably augmenting our individual capacities, they are improving the mind of humanity. Where is the mystical source of human emotion? The subconscious plays a key role in the decision making process. While computers are fully aware of their heuristics, the human mind can not fathom the complexity of its own function. This ignorance of our own inspirations allows us to believe we control our own destiny. Is control an illusion? What remains for us, should we believe there is no escape from destiny? Dreams do not lie along the path of least resistance. Only after shedding the burden of self doubt, the weight of societal obligation and familial resignation will we be enlightened enough to travel new paths. Uphill battles with old habits and convention must be won, or the hilltop will not be reached. We must not succumb to weakness, we must be stronger then those who came before us, we must be smarter. We will continue to grow even if we are complacent, but we will also continue to suffer. Electricity flows along the path of least resistance. People ought to be aware of nature’s Tao, flow, or way. We have a unique capacity for discretion however, that lets us harness the natural current. Through benign focus we can redirect that energy, and use it to steer the course of society. Weather we make choices, or infinite variables have pre-destined our every motion, we can force ourselves to do our best. We must live responsibly.