Q&A: Are the Laws of Physics Not Valid in a Situation of Free Choice?
Are the Laws of Physics Not Valid in a Situation of Free Choice?
Question
Hello Rabbi Michael Abraham,
As a dualist who believes in free choice, do you believe that our actions are not determined only by physics? That is, assuming our body is a physical system, do you believe that the laws of physics are broken by free choice itself, insofar as this relates to the human body? After all, the initial pulse in the brain from which the body begins to act is created by a non-physical factor, namely a free spirit.
If you believe this, then apparently you believe that every situation of free choice is a miracle, and that the human being himself is what brings about those miracles. After all, a miracle is a situation in which the laws of nature are broken.
I would be happy if you would elaborate.
Best regards.
Answer
I agree with every word. I explained this in my book The Science of Freedom and in the article that summarizes it. What did you want me to elaborate on?
Thank you, there’s nothing to add to that. (By the way, I haven’t read the book.) What you’re saying is amazing: that a person has a kind of telekinesis in the brain (in the brain alone), by virtue of his free choice itself.
There’s no need to look for proof that miracles are possible, however far-fetched that may sound. It’s enough to understand what free choice is.
And I can take this idea further: if the human spirit brings about the laws of nature in the human brain, then presumably one can get closer to the idea that if the human spirit has some source, it would not be far-fetched to suppose that it is that source which can bring about all the laws of nature in the world, since we already have an example before our eyes that such a thing is possible.
Best regards.