Monday 5 August 2013

Willy Nilly

Honestly, I cannot understand what people mean when they talk about the freedom of the human will. 
I have a feeling, for instance, that I will something or other; 
but what relation this has with freedom I cannot understand at all. 
I feel that I will to light my pipe and I do it; but how can I connect this up with the idea of freedom? 
What is behind the act of willing to light the pipe? Another act of willing? 
Schopenhauer once said: Der Mensch kann was er will; er kann aber nicht wollen was er will 
(Man can do what he will but he cannot will what he wills).
 ― Albert Einstein