"Today, I struggled so much choosing between curry and ramen."
Haru laughed. Lunch break, three eating bento together.
"Ultimately?" Noa asked.
"Curry. But did I really choose it myself?"
Ren showed interest. "What do you mean?"
"Well, maybe I unconsciously came to like curry. Genes, or environment I grew up in."
"The problem of free will," Ren became serious. "One of philosophy's greatest puzzles."
Noa supplemented. "Are our choices truly free, or are they determined by something?"
"Determined?" Haru was surprised.
"There is a view called determinism," Ren explained. "All events are determined by past causes."
"So me choosing curry too?"
"A determinist would say yes. All past experiences made you choose curry."
Haru was confused. "But I feel like I chose myself."
"Some view that as 'the illusion of free will.'"
Noa said gently. "But not all philosophers support determinism."
"What other views?"
"Sartre said 'Man is condemned to be free.'"
"Condemned to freedom?"
Ren explained. "Humans must choose. It is inescapable freedom."
"Heavy..." Haru murmured.
"In existentialism, humans have no essence. So we create ourselves."
"But," Haru objected, "country of birth, parents, genes. We did not choose, right?"
"Sharp," Noa nodded. "That is 'thrownness.' Cannot choose the thrown situation."
"So not free?"
"Cannot choose situation. But can choose how to deal with it," Ren said.
"Deal?"
"Heidegger's idea. In the thrown world, how to live is up to you."
Haru organized. "Situation is given. But reaction is choosable."
"Viktor Frankl said something similar," Noa continued. "Even in concentration camps, there was freedom to choose attitude."
"Even in extreme conditions?"
"'You can take everything from a person, but the last freedom, the freedom to choose one's attitude toward the situation, cannot be taken.'"
Haru was moved. "So there is freedom."
"But," Ren said cautiously, "neuroscience shows a different view."
"What kind?"
"Libet's experiment. The brain starts activity before consciousness makes a choice."
"Before consciousness?"
"Yes. Meaning, the moment we think we 'chose,' the brain already decided."
Haru was confused. "So it is illusion after all?"
Noa mediated. "Interpretations differ. Some view brain activity as part of 'me.'"
"What does that mean?"
"Consciousness alone is not 'me.' Including unconscious is 'me.' So even if the brain decides first, it is my choice."
Ren supplemented. "It is a problem of how to define the scope of self."
Haru thought. "Too difficult..."
"Then, a practical perspective," Noa proposed. "Rather than whether free will exists, how to live."
"How to live?"
"Kant said, 'Act as if you are free.'"
"As if?"
"No certainty. But living believing in freedom is more meaningful."
Ren continued. "The problem of responsibility. Without freedom, no responsibility."
"But with responsibility?"
"Life gains meaning," Noa smiled. "Choices gain weight."
Haru took a deep breath. "Then I will believe there is freedom."
"Good choice," Ren acknowledged. "That itself may be exercising free will."
"Self-referential?"
"Yes. The choice to believe in freedom proves freedom."
Haru laughed. "Philosophy goes in circles."
"That is the charm."
Noa said quietly. "No complete answer. But value in continuing to ask."
"I think I will struggle between curry and ramen tomorrow too."
The two laughed.
"That struggle is humanity," Ren said.
"Freedom to choose and freedom to struggle," Noa added.
Haru looked up at the sky. Still do not know if free.
But will live believing in freedom. That is my choice now.
This choice too may have been determined.
Still, I want to say I chose it.