The freedom to act and think freely is the desire of any individual, or even a society, for that matter. Free will is the ability and capacity of any person to perform acts or make decisions without any internal or external influence. Something as simple as choosing the kind of food to eat, what clothes to wear, and when and where to do an activity can make all of a difference to the world to man’s overall well-being. The book Cyberbrain by Benoit Blanchard portrays a world different and counteracting man’s ultimate gift in life – free will. In Cyberbrain, the author tells the story of mid-21st century America when an electronic device known as “cyber” is implanted in newborns. This “cyber” is the government’s attempt to detect and deter crime and reduce the crime rate by manipulating the thought patterns of the infants as they grow into adulthood. Cyberbrain is a fast-moving, action-packed novel that takes the reader on one wild ride of mind control and sinister plotting as the book’s main protagonist, Max Wilson, struggles against a system that’s set to undermine man’s free will. 

Man & Free Will  

What can man do with the so-called free will? For one thing, a person could act and think independently of any other person. Free will is so all-encompassing that it covers anything and everything associated with life and living itself. But why would there be attempts to stem man’s free will? What would push society to implement measures, and sometimes even aggressive measures, to control man’s freedom to think and act?

Some would say that the cause of crime is man’s abuse of their freedom. Man would think that there is no restraint when expressing and putting their thoughts, opinions, or desire into action. This unhampered freedom often infringes upon other people’s freedom, hence, the need to put some sort of control or constraint. 

Some societies would also put unnecessarily too much constraint in place. This scenario is typically present in dictatorial-type societies ruled by despotic, tyrannical leadership where fundamental civil liberties are usually suppressed. 

Ultimately, free will is a desirable quality that all society should be able to possess in the first place. 

What makes free will desirable?

First off, free will is linked with the freedom to choose. Freedom to choose means freedom to choose whatever actions and speech a person wants to express. This kind of freedom is very beneficial for man’s overall well-being, particularly with mental health.

Most mental health problems are caused by repressing one’s capability to express themselves. This includes preventing themselves from feeling angry when they’re supposed to be angry; not letting themselves experience happiness as much as possible, or stopping themselves from enjoying a good laugh; or even something as simple as enjoying a day of rest and relaxation to release the tensions accumulated during a particularly busy and stressful day. Not relieving oneself from stress and tension often leads to anxiety and depression, and in worst cases, developing physical illness such as digestive diseases or even cancer. Thus, it is essential that an individual should and must go through and experience all range of emotions to stay overall fit and healthy. 

There should be balance in society; that is why, as strange as it sounds, man should be allowed according to their free will, whether those actions are good or bad. Good actions are set as good examples morally in public. In contrast, evil acts are met with appropriate penalties but still are necessary to set an example of what will happen if someone chooses to do something bad. Not that bad deeds are encouraged, but still, they are part and parcel of the logic why laws are being created in the first place – to set examples of consequences. And because of this rationale, man becomes conscious of their actions, hence, starting a ripple effect of moral responsibility or the responsibility of one’s actions. 

Benoit Blanchard plots a story of a government’s propaganda against crime through mind-controlling, thereby threatening society’s free will. What man chooses to do with their free will is their decision alone. Whether or not there is a government that serves to regulate man’s action, ultimately, life itself will serve out the repercussions that some people call destiny. But for most people, free will is a gift, a reason for living.   

Join Max Wilson in the action-packed thriller, Cyberbrain. Grab a copy of the book on Amazon, or visit the author’s website at www.whatisacyber.com.