Existential Dialectic of Freedom & Responsibility

“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be more useful.” ~ Marie Curie

Introduction to Freedom & Responsibility

Due to the inherently unpredictable nature of life, particularly within our fast-paced, technologically advanced, and highly interconnected modern society, a variety of complicated emotions tend to emerge for many individuals when confronting the fundamental and profoundly layered existential dialectic of freedom and responsibility. There are a variety of reasons for this, but it is primarily due to the underlying tension existing between the potential anxiety that accompanies the inherent risks associated with confronting new experiences, and our desire to feel the joy and fulfillment that often accompanies a sense of autonomy and sovereignty over our lives. Furthermore, as we explored in a variety of previous essays, including “Existential Psychotherapy as a Framework for Spiritual Growth and Development” and “Introduction to Existential Dialectics & Antithetical Themes in Isaiah,” the tensions existing between the other pillars/dialectical pairs within the Existential Psychotherapy framework are inextricably connected to those present between freedom and responsibility, as meaning making is necessary in order for us to have a true sense of autonomy, and balancing this with our need to stay connected within the broader context of society has the potential to profoundly influence the way we both understand and experience the dialectical pairs of freedom and responsibility. Therefore, learning how to navigate the complexities associated with balancing our intrinsic motivation to advance our level of understanding within new areas alongside our need for safety and predictability is paramount if we are to feel successful at managing the inherent tensions present within the dynamic interplay between our desire for autonomy and our need for responsibility.

Unique Challenges Within our Modern Age

As mentioned previously, life within our modern age presents a number of unique challenges associated with the fundamental tension between freedom and responsibility primarily due to a variety of technological advancements that have developed and the highly interconnected, globalized nature of society as a whole. Since beginning to write online, I have become increasingly aware of the many challenges that recent technological advancements tend to create. As I have brought up my concerns, numerous other individuals including professional colleagues and friends, have expressed similar concerns over the need for a proper understanding of and ethical use of these resources, so this is a topic of particular interest to me currently. One thing that I have observed is that the extent to which science-based/technical skills and other professional/soft skills are intertwined, particularly within fields that have traditionally been considered to be isolated/separate from the sciences (i.e. professions within the Arts & Humanities), appears to be an important contributing factor when considering the extent to which technology resources present challenges that have the potential of culminating in an existential threat to humanity.

My proposed theory on why this is the case is due to the fact that the arts and sciences have traditionally been perceived as requiring fundamentally distinct skill sets in order to be successful within each of those fields. Therefore, it has been common to assume that if a person is skilled at one, they are not likely to be as skilled at the other. However, the fast pace of modern life, along with the increasing need to be proficient in technology-based skills to a certain extent across disciplines unavoidably places a number of individuals who traditionally would not have chosen a profession in the sciences to interact within data-driven systems that both merge with and mimic the most complex systems known to mankind, such as the human nervous system. Due to these shifts in needed skill sets in order to function within modern workplace environments regardless of an individual’s chosen area of discipline, the gap between an individual’s training/professional skills within their chosen field and their ability to navigate data-driven Complex Adaptive Systems such as online workplace environments, has increased in modern years for a number of individuals, particularly for those working in fields that fall within the Arts & Humanities. Despite this, an intriguing relationship has emerged (or perhaps simply has become more transparent) between the Arts & Humanities and Science-based fields, as there appears to be a certain point at which the technical aspects of an individual’s skills merge with the creative or more seemingly artistic aspects, thereby allowing them to achieve peak creativity. This is highly correlated with the cognitive state of flow, which is a widely-recognized concept from Csikszentmihalyi’s book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience that has been referenced numerous times in my writing as well, including in my essay entitled, “Self-Actualization ~ Transcending the Limitations of our Mortal Existence.” In other words, these distinct manners of human expression and understanding of the world are merging in uniquely powerful ways within our modern society, and fields that have historically appeared to be polar opposites are increasingly being recognized as complementary, as they appear to have a symbiotic relationship that at times appears to be quite profound.

The degree of acknowledgement regarding this relationship amongst distinct individuals ranges from complete denial to ambiguous to affirming, and everything in between. The extent to which this complementary relationship is able to be both established and maintained depends largely upon a variety of other factors and variables external to the individual. In other words, in order for an individual to feel highly successful and achieve peak creativity on a regular basis within their area of expertise, a certain level of external support and infrastructure, including cultural and in some cases economic/financial support, must be favorable in order for these conditions to be met. Therefore, if we are to make optimal levels of progress within society across disciplinary fields, it is essential to prioritize proper understanding, training, and support surrounding the fact that these gaps in skill sets genuinely exist and take meaningful steps towards bridging the gap between desired levels of competence and actual levels of competence within a variety of domains. It appears that the need to become at least somewhat of a polymath is necessary in order to thrive in this type of professional environment based on my experience and things that have been shared by friends and colleagues.

Achieving Flow States & Peak Creativity

Despite the fact that I typically prefer to only share things that have been rigorously researched, I will mention that I have a working hypothesis regarding flow states or states of peak creativity, specifically within individuals on the autism spectrum, that I believe is worth a considerable amount of deliberation. Furthermore, I will mention that the basis for this hypothesis is founded upon a variety of large-scale academic research studies done by reputable organizations, including the ENIGMA Consortium (Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics Through Meta-Analysis). The mission of this organization is to improve our level of understanding with respect to brain structure, function, and a variety of neurological conditions and/or illnesses so as to improve the quality of life of numerous individuals suffering from various neurological conditions, disorders, illnesses, and maladaptive neurological states induced by age or genetic-related causes. A number of studies done on autistic individuals in an effort to better understand brain organization and interconnectivity across hemispheres, as well as implications regarding brain functioning and limitations were conducted by this organization.

These studies revealed that not only is atypical hemispheric lateralization more commonly present in individuals on the autism spectrum, but that this difference can contribute to more highly interconnected neural networks on a broader scale. This is clearly stated in an article summarizing findings from numerous studies entitled Subtly Altered Topological Asymmetry of Brain Structural Covariance Networks in Autism Spectrum Disorder Across 43 Datasets from Enigma Consortium. The article delineates this in the following manner, “While it is not fully understood how inter-regional covariation of cortical thickness arises, one prevailing hypothesis is that synapses can have mutually trophic and protective effects on the pre-and post-synaptic neurons involved, such that increased inter-regional connectivity can lead to co-variance at the macro-anatomical level. In addition, synchronous firing between neurons could trigger coordinated synaptogenesis and growth of more highly connected regions.” Essentially, research from neuroimaging data has revealed that brain hemispheric organization in individuals with ASD tends to be distinct in some important ways from that of neurotypical individuals, thereby contributing to the unique manner in which their brain functions. This can present a variety of limitations in functioning, such as atypical motor system and language development, which can cause developmental delays for some autistic individuals in these areas, to provide some examples.

Despite the fact that less emphasis tends to be placed upon the benefits of these brain structural differences from a medical model perspective, I believe it is important to mention that due to these brain structural differences in autistic individuals, they tend to have an enhanced ability to hyperfocus (i.e. reach cognitive flow states) and access optimal states of creative expression and innovative thinking. Therefore, I believe that it is reasonable to state the first portion of my hypothesis, which is that there is a profoundly intertwined connection between branches of philosophy, including metaphysics, and scientific theories and that attempting to separate the two is not only naive but also a failure to acknowledge reality at its most profound level, and that it is possible that individuals on the autism spectrum may have a greater degree of proclivity with respect to being able to detect these types of patterns within the fabric of reality due to the brain structural differences mentioned previously. At the same time, I would like to acknowledge the fact that neurotypical ways of interacting contribute significantly as well, as they tend to process information more efficiently and may have a broader network of friends and colleagues with whom to both give and receive support on a regular basis. We can learn a lot from each other on a daily basis through our interactions at home, within our communities, and in the workplace, so keeping those channels of communication open provides the most benefit to society, as all are needed and contribute in unique ways to enrich the beautiful tapestry of life.

Due to the richness and beauty I perceive, I hold the aforementioned hypothesis with respect to the profoundly intertwined relationship between metaphysics and scientific theories even within the context of highly enigmatic and difficult-to-understand-at-a-technical-level theories (such as quantum theory), despite the need for more rigorous research studies to be done in this area. Some of the underlying concepts within this theoretical framework such as superposition and quantum entanglement, are simply too compelling to ignore if you consider their potential implications within a metaphysical context. Despite this, I do not believe that everything with respect to this topic necessarily needs to be fully understood in order to appreciate it on some level and be in awe of the potential implications if these theoretical concepts hold true within other contexts. Sometimes learning about new things leaves us with more questions than answers initially. Perhaps that is a blessing, as it keeps us humble and seeking after the Lord’s guidance on things that we feel we need further assistance with understanding. It is also a reminder that faith is essential to cultivate throughout our lives, as we may never fully comprehend the mystery of the Lord’s nature or our awe for his wondrous creations, but we can still find joy in pondering upon them and being a part of this beautiful world that was created in our behalf.

How Peak Creativity Intersects with Freedom & Responsibility

As mentioned previously, due to a variety of technological advancements, the fast pace of modern life, the highly interconnected nature of society, and a number of cultural shifts in society largely stemming from these changes, it has become more essential than ever to venture out into the proverbial unknown by developing new skills that may be outside our original scope of comfort or familiarity. This can be a daunting task, as we may not always feel capable of taking on all of the potential challenges that may be presented to us at any given time. However, if we have a genuine sense of deep caring about our families, friends, colleagues, and society as a whole, we can find creative solutions to our problems in a collective manner, as we all depend on each other in some way, even if that is not immediately apparent due to personality differences or other things that can at times interfere with us feeling profoundly connected to others. One thing that can help with this is simply acknowledging that we do not know everything, but that we can still have faith and confidence in our ability to navigate complex situations and challenges due to our ability to overcome past negative experiences and make efforts to continuously triumph over the cognitive and/or spiritual entropy that has at times interfered with our ability to see ourselves clearly as divine beings of light with infinite potential who can make a positive difference in the world. Forgiving ourselves for past mistakes and moving forward in directions that feel inspired can also help us with making progress in the ways that we need to in order to improve and help others.

In many ways our modern society provides ample opportunities for learning, growth, and creative expression, which could be perceived as symbolizing freedom or access to a greater degree of autonomy. However, with this greater degree of autonomy comes an increased need to ensure that our actions are beneficial to society as a whole and that we are staying balanced in our mindset with how we are deriving benefit from the resources available to us. In other words, with an increased degree of freedom and autonomy, there is an increased tendency towards a focus on self rather than others, so ensuring that there is a healthy balance between the two is important. Listening to other’s perspectives can assist us with gaining a greater degree of clarity surrounding ways in which we can best support and help them and communicating about our own needs is important as well so we can stay in connection with others without resentment building due to unmet needs or poorly communicated boundaries. It can take time to learn and develop these skills if that has been an issue in the past, so being patient with yourself as you improve in the ways that you are hoping is an essential part of this process.

A strong relationship appears to exist between the extent to which an individual grapples with feelings of existential dread or death anxiety and their degree of life satisfaction, and this can be present in their more extreme forms at both ends of the continuum between individuals who live in constant fear of stepping outside of their comfort zones and those who bravely step out into the unknown in an effort to experience life more fully. The tension that exists at both ends of the spectrum can create a sense of existential dread, as at one end the individual is overly preoccupied with managing perceived threats, whereas at the other end, the individual is actually taking risks that could lead to being in a potentially perilous situation or even a confrontation with death. The degree of anxiety present in these situations, due to either actual or perceived threats, must be acknowledged as a legitimate reason why the existential dialectic of freedom and responsibility is often considered to be the most complex, as the individual experiences life based on their own individual freedom and agency, which creates an added layer of stress and anxiety that does not exist to the same extent when an individual confronts extreme situations such as death due to an illness, age, or other natural causes outside of their control. The fact that death is a possibility due to the inherently ephemeral nature of life because of our mortal condition must be acknowledged as a genuine source of anxiety for individuals facing decisions that they feel could potentially be unsafe or lead to a confrontation with their own mortality. The particular types of challenges that are present in confrontations with a sense of groundlessness or ultimate freedom was explored a bit in my previous essay entitled “Existential Isolation as a Catalyst for Growth,” where the concept of ur-anxiety was referenced, as well as the concepts of harmful and regenerative freedom.

Conclusion

As mentioned previously, due to the aforementioned societal developments and changes, some steps we can take towards resolving the discomfort present in challenging situations may simply mean accepting that there will be areas wherein we lack sufficient knowledge or expertise to know how to skillfully navigate a complex situation. For that reason, working to close that gap is essential in order to improve the quality of our lives and daily functioning, not only for ourselves but for everyone within our sphere of influence. Yet another thing to consider are the ways in which we are making efforts to build a legacy, which essentially could be understood to mean ensuring that our essence lives on in moments when our mortal limitations do not permit us to be present with resolving a particular problem or improving a particular situation about which we care deeply. It is about expanding our sphere of influence in meaningful ways at a pace that feels right in an effort to assist others with navigating a variety of complex challenges frequently encountered within our modern society. A lovely metaphor for thinking about this could be doing some self-reflecting regarding the ways in which we are engineering the proverbial golden spiral in our lives as well as in the lives of others in an effort to assist them with achieving higher states of consciousness and attaining a sense of ascending into a self-actualized state of being or essence that transcends the mortal limitations of our existence. As described in Isaiah, whenever we are afraid or unsure of how to proceed, we can find great comfort in the Lord’s words of encouragement if we are continuously focused on fulfilling his purposes by making intentional efforts to love and care for others. In other words, we will be guided and protected if the condition of our hearts are pure and we genuinely desire to make the world a better place.

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” ~ Isaiah 43:2