This piece was written for and accompanied by an audio track found here.
The idea of a being, whose intellect cannot transcend the one which it already possesses, being able to determine the nature of its own existence and the motives by which it operates puzzles me. It would seem self evident that any sentient entity with a set amount of intelligence and capacity to operate would assess its state of existence relative to itself. Consider: we humans, as relatively intelligent creatures, may observe the behaviors of comparably simple creatures such as ants and with minimal observation are able to determine the motives that drive them. An ant burrows underground for shelter, tracks chemical stimuli to find food, and communicates to its fellow ants via pheromones about its location and status. The behaviors of an ant are simple to us, but it would follow that to an ant, its behaviors are inexplicable; driven by some unknown force it cannot determine. An ant is not sentient as far as we are aware, but if it were it might conclude that such behavior was driven by its own motives and that it has the ability to choose and determine its own actions. In much the same way, it would then follow that a human cannot adequately determine the reason for their own actions, and would subsequently require a sufficiently more intelligent being to properly analyze and understand its behaviors. This being, much like an ant to a human, might then determine that humans operate under fairly simple patterns of behavior. Dutch philosopher Benedict Spinoza, in his book Ethics proposes a similar explanation of free will: “Experience teaches us no less clearly than reason, that men believe themselves free, simply because they are conscious of their actions, and unconscious of the causes whereby those actions are determined.” Under this premise, I believe that the concept of free will is an illusion.
The song takes the form of a chronological portrayal of events, with two distinct interpretations of its mythos. The first interpretation is from a biological or human perspective. The song starts with a single line of the bass, repeating on its own to illustrate its solitary and unchangeable nature. This bass line will remain, independent of any outside factors, and acts as the subconscious continuum that both guides and drives the entire piece. Next, the two separate guitars are introduced and directly mirror this continuum. This is meant to signify any two various individuals and the beginning of their lives. The bass shapes their behaviors, and at their birth they are identical and completely subservient to the forces that guide them. As the track progresses, they begin to slowly differentiate and express their individuality. As they mature, more and more choices are presented to them, all the while the subconscious ticks behind, unchanging and explicit in its direction. The two individuals continue their separate existences, seemingly diverging further away from each other as time progresses -- their perceived free will increasing with each move. It is not too long, however, before they begin mirroring each other, progressing in similar ways at different times. They are conscious of their actions, but unaware of their perpetual unconscious, propelling them forward with predictability under an established pattern. As they reach the end of their lives, they once again begin to coalesce in their actions and orbit the force that once bound them much less subtly. Eventually, as they approach death, their choices synchronize with the subconscious continuum, and they realize the futility of their actions and the predetermined nature of life. Only then can they truly be free from the grasp of their own subconscious and live out the rest of their days relieved from the burden of choice. The bass continues on oblivious to the existences of these individuals, growing louder and distorted -- encompassing everything while marking its permanence.
This perspective interprets free will as a consequence of our biological existence. We believe we are making choices that we deem as free, but we generally only make choices that we decide benefit us and so are constrained by this notion. The subconscious will always intervene and correct our judgment if it deems necessary. If you are in danger, you feel pain. If you have been wronged, you feel anger. If you require sustenance, you feel hunger. All of our choices, regardless of how complex, are molded by this framework. As such, while our choices may seem free, they are perpetually guided by our subconscious drive to further our existence.
The other interpretation of this song is from a metaphysical sense. The theory of the big bang postulates that all matter and energy was once condensed into a singular a point and once compressed enough exploded outwards from this location, spreading the mass and energy in discrete forms all across the universe. In this interpretation, the bass acts as the continuum of time and the increase in entropy. As entropy begins increasing and time moves forward, distinct particles are created and begin to enact the complex equation that was started by the big bang. The guitars themselves represent matter and energy, and the forms they take represent increasing complexity. As time moves forward and entropy increases, more complex variations of matter and energy can exist. They further differentiate themselves, increasing the complexity possible within the universe. Eventually, all matter and energy reaches its inevitable end, and as entropy has increased so has the homogeneity of the universe. This is represented by the eventual coalescence of the guitars and bass. The complex and distinct forms once possible have now been evenly distributed across the known universe and the finality of the heat death is reached. Eventually, this homogenous mixture begins to pool and contract, once again compressing all the matter and energy and restarting the entire process.
This perspective sees actions as consequences of the perpetual cycle of the universe. Once the big bang occurs, it begins the calculations of a grand equation that will not resolve itself until the heat death. Humans are created as a result of these calculations, and their actions and decisions exist only to serve the increasing of entropy and the end of the equation. The choices they make were predetermined billions of years ago when the big bang occurred, and so the free will they observe is a mere illusion.
This song is undoubtedly dark and exceedingly depressing, but that’s not necessarily how it should be interpreted. For most, the idea that our choices do not belong to us and are out control is a terrifying thought; but it doesn’t have to be. Great comfort can be found in the solace that we all have a destiny and a direction. No action you take is the wrong one because it is what was always intended to occur. Despite the uncertainty of whether free will truly exists or is simply an illusion, it is what you believe that truly determines the outcome of your existence.
