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Flammarion, Camille - On free will and the systems of the universe
Identifier
022737
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Flammarion, C., Carroll, L, - Death and its mystery: before death
257 death and its mystery
Undoubtedly, our liberty is much more restricted than it appears to superficial minds. The cosmic progress of the universe leads us on. We live under the influence of astronomical conditions, of meteorological conditions, of heat, of cold, of climate, of electricity, of light, of our surroundings, of our heredity, of our education, of our temperament, of our health, of our strength of will, etc.
Our liberty is comparable to that of a passenger on a ship which bears him from Europe to America. His voyage is traced in advance. His liberty stops short at the ship's railing. He can walk upon his floating edifice, talk, read, smoke, sleep, play cards, etc.; but he cannot leave his moving home. The sketch of our existence is traced in advance, like the movements of the portions of a machine, and we have a role to fill, with a certain amount of personal action. This conditional liberty is certainly very limited, but it exists all the same.