Being smart is NOT normally associated with being closed-minded, but bear with me. Sometimes I wish I could be more closed-minded. But, instead, my old brain insists upon being open-minded. Of course, I will have to explain myself.
We have all been in steamy bathrooms after taking a shower. The mirrors fog up and then so much for accurately combing one's hair.
… Which brings me to free will.
The way some people discuss the concept of free will suggests to me that they perceive human behavior to be random. But, it is NOT random. There is no question that people make choices and make changes in their behaviors. But, such choices and changes are NOT immune to the lawfulness of the universe! In this essay, I will use my own behavior with fogged up mirrors as an example.
Much of my behavior is habit driven. There is nothing wrong with good habits. On Sundays I go to Church. That behavior has been finely honed for decades and decades. Another such habit, not as good, is eating snacks when I first get home from work. That eating habit might not be in my best interest.
In general, I find it hard to break habits. Habits resist change. I think that is a law of the universe.
And, there is one habit in particular that I have been trying to break for weeks and weeks.
Recently, I purchased a new grooming razor – a Wahl GroomsMan T-Pro. It has a grounded T-blade for haircutting, a nose-hair trimmer, a precision trimmer, and a dual-foil shaver. I like the blades because they are sharp, and they cut facial hair with precision. I keep this razor system inside my bathroom mirror cabinet. I wish the cabinet had a simple hinged door, but instead it has two sliding doors that move left to right and right to left.
Years ago, I discovered that if I placed one of the sliding mirrors behind the other before I showered, then I would be able to get showered, dry off, and then immediately comb my hair using the mirror that was placed behind the front mirror. That second mirror would NOT be steamed up like the front one.
So for decades, I have showered with my mirror cabinet partially open.
But, now I want both mirrors completely shut to protect my new Wahl razor from the corroding steam.
The problem is that I cannot remember to close the mirrors before I jump in the shower. Consequently, I get out of the shower and my Wahl razor is all wet.
This problem has been going on for weeks. But, then I thought I would get smart. All I needed was a reminder. So, I wrote the words "Get Smart" on a Post-It note and plastered it on the middle of the mirror. My theory was that the note would act as a discriminative stimulus that would set the occasion for "mirror closing behavior."
The Post-It note has not worked thus far. In other words, I have yet to be smart.
I really just wish I could be "closed-minded." But, maybe I love that Wahl razor just too much. Who cares if it corrodes and I have to shell out $45 bucks every few months?
Well, I do. I love my razor, but I just cannot organize my behavior to save it. My "free will" is not working well.
I am just glad God does not have a memory problem. Wouldn't it be horrible if the mirrors of salvation were all fogged up?
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3 comments:
By coincidence, I just finished the chapter on free will in Sam Harris' new book "The Moral Landscape"
I had no choice but to write this...
Stan:
I am reading the same book (by choice), but you are ahead of me (probably in more ways than one).
Highly Humorous Dad.
Son #1
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