Wandering Into Wisdom

This blog chronicles the knowledge, insight and wisdom I encounter every day as a leadership consultant, executive coach, educator, father, friend and citizen. This site is dedicated to my father, Louis (Jack) Laughlin, who passed on to me an appreciation for wisdom. A special thanks to my friend Isaac Cheifetz, a businessman and journalist, who helped me understand the value of blogs and encouraged me to write one.

Free Will*

Free will is an integral part of most western religious traditions. In this context we have a separate will from God. But free will also exists as the human ability to act contrary to our instincts. Unlike other animals we can choose to stand and face danger, not react when threatened, not eat when hungry, etc. Although animals can be trained to act in a similar fashion they do not do so of their own free will. It’s not simply that we do something better; we do something they cannot.