The Determined Journey According to Kingsley

Empedocles proposed that all entities, including human souls, originated from a celestial realm characterized by perfection. Following this, two significant descents occurred. The first plunge was into the domain of Aphrodite, where humans were seduced by her alluring love, leading them away from their heavenly abode. The second descent transpired when humans, as was their fate, transgressed Aphrodite's laws, resulting in their banishment to a finite earthly existence fraught with suffering and turmoil.

Yet, through the guidance of figures like Empedocles, humanity can eventually navigate its way back to the celestial realm, initiating a cyclical process that repeats indefinitely. Kingsley posits that this entire journey is predetermined; we are destined to fall from grace and return repeatedly.

This relentless cycle prompts Kingsley to question the purpose of effort. If everything is preordained, why should we strive? His response is that our drive to return is ingrained in our nature: "We are bound to do whatever we can to become more conscious."

From Motion to Stillness

Kingsley suggests that to ascend back to the heavens, we must pierce through the illusions of our current world. Upon recognizing this perpetual cycle, we come to understand that what appears to be constant change is, in essence, a lack of change. The movement we observe is merely a repetitive pattern.

Through this realization, we uncover a stillness at the heart of all this activity. It’s akin to shifting from the edge of a spinning wheel to its center, where tranquility resides. Although we continue to navigate through life’s experiences, we begin to see them as part of a larger play. This mirrors the adage, "Before enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water. After enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water, but the experience was entirely different."

Kingsley articulates this notion as follows: "We appear to make unreal choices, feeling joy or disappointment, seemingly preferring one option over another. Yet, internally, the drama lacks substance. To discover that stillness means neither being ensnared by illusions nor attempting to flee from them. Even when we feel trapped, we are ultimately free."

Free Will vs. Spiritual Determinism

The crux of my inquiry is whether we are as predetermined as Kingsley suggests. It’s crucial to distinguish that Kingsley refers to "spiritual determinism," diverging from the physical determinism espoused by thinkers like Newton and Galileo.

This notion has led to considerable contemplation and debate on my part. Many, including myself, struggle with the idea that free will may be an illusion. The concept of free will provides life with meaning and inspires a sense of agency.

Moreover, it raises the question of accountability for our actions. If everything is predetermined, can we truly be held responsible for our deeds, be they heinous or benevolent?

Kingsley, however, offers a perspective on this matter, asserting that we are wired to perceive ourselves as having free will, despite its absence.

William James vs. Peter Kingsley

The proposition of strict determinism is complex and challenging to validate or refute. William James, the American philosopher, argued that because we function as if free will exists, it serves as a valid reason to believe in its reality. While James, being a pragmatist, acknowledges the inability to definitively prove this stance, he arrives at a conclusion distinct from Kingsley’s.

If we accept that an intelligent design is embedded within the universe, guiding it as Kingsley suggests, we must then ponder whether this "Intelligence" has preordained every occurrence. Kingsley, in alignment with Empedocles, asserts that it has. Thus, they conclude that free will is an illusion, crafted by the universe’s intelligence.

This raises profound questions: Was Eve destined to consume the apple in the Garden of Eden, or did she genuinely exercise free choice? Was this act part of the universe's grand design? The argument becomes more compelling if we envision the universe’s intelligence as a personal deity; however, if it is impersonal, the discussion remains open-ended.

The Quantum Physics Perspective

I find insights in quantum physics particularly enlightening. It has demonstrated that causal determinism is flawed—there isn’t a single pathway for the future to unfold, but rather multiple possibilities. Quantum physics presents the likelihood of various outcomes.

This concept is akin to how insurance companies assess the likelihood of car accidents in different regions. Areas with higher traffic volumes generally witness more accidents than less populated zones. While they cannot predict whether an individual will have an accident, they can estimate that the probability is heightened in busier areas.

Applying this to the scenario of Eve and the apple, quantum physics would suggest there are varying probabilities regarding her decision to bite it, but nothing is certain until the choice is made.

So, if she chooses to eat the apple freely, counter to the universe's plan, what then?

Martin Luther King’s Perspective

As Reverend Martin Luther King famously stated, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Accepting this viewpoint implies that even if Eve acts out of free will, disrupting the universe's design, the cosmos will ultimately adjust to restore balance. In this interpretation, an element of freedom and randomness exists, yet it remains interwoven with the greater scheme.

Was Life on Earth Predetermined?

In my book, The Magical Universe, I pondered the origins of our planet Earth. Was it destined for life and consciousness to emerge here? I answered both yes and no. Yes, because the universe intends for life to arise somewhere, but no, as it didn’t have to happen on this specific planet.

Ultimately, while life and consciousness were fated to evolve, their specific emergence was governed by probabilities.

As we confront the looming threat of climate change, we may question whether this too aligns with the universe’s design. Will there be a surge in awareness before it’s too late, as Kingsley suggests? It remains uncertain, but history has shown that miracles can occur.

Are We Destined to Overcome Climate Change?

Perhaps the universe has fostered intelligent life across various planets, aware that many of these civilizations may self-destruct, yet some will persevere. Which species will thrive is contingent on the probabilities we discussed. Nonetheless, the universe has predetermined that some will endure to continue its evolutionary mission, even if it cannot specify which ones.

In closing, I lean towards the belief in free will within the broader framework of an evolving universe that ultimately inclines towards justice, regardless of how far we may deviate. That said, the fate of our planet remains uncertain—it is up to us to determine whether we emerge as victors or casualties in the evolutionary narrative.