Rabbi Argues Free Will Is an Illusion Driven by Habit and Social Pressure
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Rabbi Chananaya Mans argues that people often act out of habit and social pressure rather than free will, citing psychological experiments and the "world of Torah" crisis. He believes addictions stem from people-pleasing and lack of authentic choice, but recovery is possible. The rabbi suggests a coin-flip method to reveal one's true desires when making decisions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Chananaya Mans claims most people act out of habit, not conscious choice.
- Social pressure and inertia dictate many life paths, according to Rabbi Mans.
- The "world of Torah" faces a crisis due to students lacking informed life choices.
- Addictions can originate from a life of people-pleasing and external validation.
- A coin-flip technique can reveal one's true desires in decision-making.
Rabbi Chananaya Mans, in a conversation with host Moshe Mans, suggests that most people do not make conscious choices but rather act out of habit and social inertia. He explains that many individuals follow a predetermined path from their early education, operating on autopilot without questioning if it aligns with their true desires. Rabbi Mans cites the classic Solomon Asch conformity experiments, where participants conformed to incorrect majority opinions, as evidence of how societal pressure influences behavior. He quotes Maimonides, stating that a person's beliefs and actions are influenced by their society.
The rabbi draws a parallel to the crisis in the "world of Torah," where many yeshiva students and "avrechim" (married scholars) enter the workforce out of necessity or difficulty in studying, rather than informed choice. This often leads to feelings of regret, identity crises, and spiritual decline because they lacked guidance on their post-study life. Rabbi Mans shares his personal experience, emphasizing that his own life changed when he actively chose a path of therapy and lecturing, recognizing what was truly good for him and avoiding a decline in his family life and spirituality.
Regarding severe addictions, Rabbi Mans believes they often stem from a life of people-pleasing, difficult upbringings, or trying to satisfy parents or institutional leaders instead of living authentically. He stresses that criticism is ineffective for those in such situations, comparing it to trying to reason with someone in a sewer. However, he maintains that even in the most challenging circumstances, choosing a different path is possible, though it is a long and complex journey.
To aid in decision-making when feeling stuck, Rabbi Mans offers a simple technique: assign two options to the sides of a coin. When flipping it, pay attention to which outcome your heart secretly hopes for. This moment of anticipation, before the coin lands, reveals one's true desires, regardless of the actual result.