The Bridge of Free Will and Conscience: On the Spiritual Struggle of Human Existence – Chapter 107

Soyo Existence Ethics (Existence itself is Ethics)

The question arises whether human beings are truly free or merely captives of freedom. While often described as “free beings,” Soyo Existence Ethics challenges this assumption. According to this perspective, human beings do not simply possess freedom; instead, they exist within a continual struggle defined by liberty itself. They are compelled to navigate the ongoing conflict between reason and emotion, and at the heart of this struggle, they must determine their own ethical path.

The Conflict Between Reason and Emotion

The conflict between reason and emotion extends beyond psychological dimensions; it represents a confrontation between the soul’s aspiration toward God and the instinctive pull toward worldly temptations. Between these opposing forces lies a singular bridge: free will. This bridge cannot be crossed by another on one’s behalf, nor can it be traversed in isolation. The decision to cross or remain is the sole responsibility of the individual. In the moment of this choice, human existence itself becomes a philosophical inquiry.

Free Will as Granted by God

According to Soyo Existence Ethics, God grants human beings free will, which constitutes both a blessing and a burden. Angels are incapable of sin due to their lack of free will, while animals experience no guilt because they lack reason. Human beings alone possess both reason and free will, and thus must endure the suffering inherent in every moment of choice. Free will is not simply the “right to choose”; it serves as evidence of the ethical responsibility entrusted by God. Individuals must bear the consequences of their choices both morally and existentially.

Free will endows humanity with self-determining power that reflects the image of God. However, this same power also possesses the potential to become a force of self-destruction.

The Struggle Upon the Bridge: The Spiritual Battle Between Reason and Emotion

Within each human being, reason and emotion are in perpetual conflict. Reason aspires toward truth and order, while emotion gravitates toward desire and possession. Reason seeks proximity to God, whereas emotion remains attached to worldly concerns. The intersection of these forces is the bridge of free will. Reason endeavors to cross this bridge and enter the chamber of conscience, where it encounters stillness, truth, and the presence of God. In contrast, emotion, unable to cross, descends into confusion and manifests as anger, jealousy, ambition, pride, and greed.

Ultimately, emotion seeks to enthrone itself as a god, while reason submits and stands before God. This ongoing conflict constitutes the spiritual struggle inherent in human existence. It persists until the final moment of life. Throughout their lives, individuals continually oscillate between the illumination of reason and the obscurity of emotion.

Free Will as the Capacity to Choose Ethics

Free will functions as more than an instrument of choice; it is an active will directed toward ethical action. When individuals choose the path of reason, they enter the chamber of conscience and embody ethical principles. In this state, reason transcends emotion, and emotion is transformed into love. Conversely, when one chooses the path of emotion alone, free will becomes a chain of desire, ultimately leading to destruction.

Anger, murder, jealousy, ambition, greed, and pride represent manifestations of evil that arise from the misuse of human free will.

Therefore, free will is inherently double-edged: it can guide individuals toward God or drive them toward destruction. The determining factor in this trajectory is conscience. Conscience serves as the compass for free will and the place where the voice of God is heard.

Philosophy Asks for the Reason of Choice

Philosophy ultimately converges upon a singular question: “Why must we choose?” While knowledge offers numerous answers, conscience reveals only one path. This path is often painful, solitary, and subject to ridicule by society. Nevertheless, it is the sole path by which an individual retains their humanity.

“A human being proves their existence through free will amid the struggle between reason and emotion.”

Throughout life, individuals inevitably confront moments of choice. The inquiry into the reason for such decisions constitutes both the origin and culmination of philosophy. Philosophy is not limited to contemplation; it is a journey toward the ethics of choice.

Free Will as the Ethical Proof of Human Existence

Free will constitutes the primary evidence of humanity’s resemblance to God. Individuals who cross the bridge by following reason embody ethical living, while those ensnared by emotion descend into the depths of desire. Nevertheless, all stand upon the same bridge. The decision to cross or remain is reserved for each individual. Accordingly, Soyo Existence Ethics asserts:

“Free will is the bridge given to humanity by God. Only those who cross that bridge may enter the chamber of conscience. Until the moment of death, human beings stand before this bridge, amid the struggle between reason and emotion. To ask for the reason behind that choice is the entirety of philosophy.”

Soyo (逍遙), Founder of Soyo Existence Ethics. Author of The Silence of Existence and The Flame of Truth

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