There is no "free-choice" as we would like it.
We are made of molecules, which are made of smaller atoms, and all these parts that make us up - from the synapses to the plasma - all of this is governed by physical laws. As such, we are subject to the entirety of our learned existence, our genetic makeup/dispositions, and cause-effect. These laws determine what will happen at all places, in all times, regardless.
In addition, space-time exists in a manner outside of our perception of the flow of time. As such, the future and the present and the past are equally "existing." If we could observe the universe extrospectively we would see space-time as a unified "dimension" of existence. We could see that the future is very much a "place" just like how Delaware is a "place." This simple understanding of the nature of Time demonstrates that there is destiny to life, where what will happen has (in essence) already happened, as much as it is happening.
Then you may say that in quantum physics there is some uncertainty. To that I would reply that the uncertainty stems only from our misunderstanding and results from our observation of the system interfering, causing a new causal relationship between "self" and existence. I would say that we are all composed of energy. That, like two tornadoes spinning closer and closer together we are all made of "the wind." When apart we appear to be two distinctly, separate, energies but as we come closer together the interwoven relationship becomes clear. Then the energy merges and the "oneness" of existence is apparent.
Think of yourself as a Tornado, a spinning torrent of wild (near unpredictable) energy. Everything around you, the couch, the internet, your mom... everything is a whirling torrent of energy on a multi-dimensional level that we are all, everyone of us connected to and subject of. The universe is as much a "God" as we could hope for, with the Laws being His fingers forcing destiny along.
If we were to have a soul, and from the soul springs choice, there could be an argument made. To say that a dog is hungry, so it eats. An ape has an itch, so he scratches it. That we, human beings, were created different than the other creatures and as such have been gifted the ability to hunger strike, or ignore an itch. This is an issue though, because we cannot say for certain if the dog does eat every time it is hungry or if the ape does scratch every time it itches. We cannot know the mind of beings not ourselves so of course "we" would say we are the ones with a soul and with free-choice. We are the only ones we can know about. Yet dolphins mate for enjoyment and dogs are keenly sensitive to emotion, and these are the pursuits of pleasure and emotion that I think, we think, choice comes from.
We could then say that all creatures, rocks, trees, everything has a spirit, an essence, a "-ness" about it. A pebble-ness. A Red-ness. But at that point we see things which have no choice, or mobility for that matter, and it becomes clear that the soul isn't all it takes. This makes the human soul different than say, a tree soul.
This brings us back to God, but lost in the ability to try and measure or describe what exactly would lead to free choice. The faith argument isn't really an argument at all, because a person simply has faith that "it's like
this." So, I must conclude then that despite existing in a causal universe we, for whatever reason, have a completely unverifiable faith that says we get to choose.
But haven't you heard the saying "God has a plan." It is how we justify still born babies, and 3 year-olds with brain tumors. The never ending horrors of our planet written off as the Will of God, part of his great and divine cosmic plan.
And what kind of God would he be if we were in charge of "His" universe. That is a fallacy right there. It would seem that God constructed this great causal universe, with Space-Time being what it is, and then said, "Okay, everything that will happen has in essence already happened. Have fun trying to make choices in that system!"
Pretty much however you carve it, with a god, with a soul, in a physical universe... Life is deterministic.
Where I find solace is in a line from one of the Matrix movies (interestingly very philosophical films):
...you didn't come here to make the choice.
You've already made it.
You're here to try to understand *why* you made it...
So that's it. We have already made our choices, just as much as they weren't really choices but "what we will do." The whole meaning to life, in my very humble opinion, is to understand the "why" and the context surrounding our decisions.
To put it another way... A decision is like a painting. The choice itself, is the physical painting, it is the apple on the canvas. What we can do, what our true purpose is, is to look at that red apple and see that it is a juicy, vibrant, piece of sustenance. To relate it to our lives, the smell of apple pie cooking in your grandmother's oven, the story of Adam and Eve and original sin.
From the outside, the painting is just the painting in much the same way an cigar is sometimes just a cigar, or a choice is just a choice. The important things, the REALLY good shit, is beneath the surface of the choice. It is in the experience. I cannot choose my experience, but I know that "I" am something, I have a self, and that I can do little more than observe and comprehend, to relate. Beyond that I find a certain Zen when accepting the will of causality, seeing the humor, beauty, and "-ness" of everything around us rather than feeling that endless "wanting."
Buddha was on to something. Remove desire and find inner peace.
