Choice and Time: Two Essential Illusions

Humans are very comfortable believing in the great multitude of obvious choices available each day. It also seems a given that time delineates our lives into nice, neat little increments. Allow me to demonstrate that Time is not real, nor is Choice what it seems to be.

Time. You might find it helpful to define the Universe as everything, everywhere, all inclusive with no limit. It is impossible that the Universe begins as nothing, and then general existence springs forth from vast nothingness. A reasonable conclusion follows that general existence therefore has no beginning, which completely annihilates the possibility of the mechanics of Time. So Time is therefore simply a convenient mental convention that humans employ in trying to make sense of their world; essentially, an illusion, albeit a helpful illusion for several reasons. How else could we write history books or get to work on time?

Choice. Did you choose to be born? What are you? You are defined by your genetic code and you are constantly modified by your environment. It is not your Choice if you do not agree with this assessment, because your brain just might be wired to reject this notion. What is the essential substance of your thoughts? Your thoughts essentially amount to many electrochemical impulses racing along neural pathways and jumping across synapses. Essentially, your brain is a sophisticated machinelike apparatus responding to stimulus. You do not choose anything. You respond. You react. It is tremendously comforting, though, to believe that you choose how to respond and how to behave. No matter how comforting that belief may be, it does not change the fact that Choice is just another illusion.

You are probably not convinced, which is fine, because these illusions bond humans together to some degree. If you are convinced, then what should you do with this new-found insight? I am confident that anyone capable of such deep thinking can answer that question. I suspect that humans embrace many other such illusions. I am David Pearl and I approve this message. (503) 428-4917