It’s a familiar scenario, you’re sitting at your desk, the hum of the office a dull backdrop to the swirling thoughts in your mind. What is reality? Does God exist? Do we have free will? These are the kinds of questions that randomly cross my mind on an ordinary afternoon while working in my office. If you’re like me, you’ve probably found yourself in existential crisis mode more than once.

Did I find definitive answers? Not exactly. But I did find clarity and that changed everything.

The key, I discovered, is philosophy. Learning about different branches of philosophy has completely changed my perspective on life. One of the most fascinating areas I’ve explored is metaphysics, a field that seeks to answer one of humanity’s greatest puzzles: existence itself.

We exist—but do our lives have meaning? Is everything predetermined, or is life inherently meaningless?

Metaphysics examines the fundamental nature of reality, existence and what lies beyond physical evidence. It is divided into two main branches:

1. Ontology – The study of being and existence.
2. Cosmology – The study of the universe and the nature of reality.

Ontology raises intriguing questions: Do objects exist independently, or only in our minds? Imagine looking at a tree is it real or is it only real within your perception? Think of The Matrix, where people lived in a simulated world yet believed it to be real. What if we, too, are living in an advanced simulation? This question, famously posed by Elon Musk, challenges my entire understanding of reality.

If reality itself is uncertain, what about free will? Do we actually choose our actions or are our decisions predetermined by forces beyond our control?

For a long time, I struggled with this question. Whenever I tried discussing it, I found that many people couldn’t fully grasp my thoughts. But this is not just my overactive imagination, there’s actual scientific research behind it.

Consider this: You think you consciously decide to drink coffee, but what if your brain has already made the choice before you become aware of it?

This idea was first explored in a neuroscience experiment conducted by Benjamin Libet in the 1980s.

Libet asked participants to press a red button whenever they felt like it while noting the exact moment they made the decision. Meanwhile, he measured their brain activity using EEG scans. What he discovered was shocking, the brain showed signs of making the decision before the participants were consciously aware of choosing to press the button.

Are We Just Pre-Programmed Machines?

If our decisions occur before we are aware of them, are we merely biological machines, following a script written by our subconscious? Do we truly have free will or is it just an illusion?

These are not questions designed to dismantle your beliefs—they are meant to expand our understanding of human behaviour and the nature of reality. After all, it is okay to ask and explore.

Exploring these questions isn’t about finding definitive answers; it’s about engaging with the mystery of existence. It’s about acknowledging the complexity of consciousness and the universe. So, the next time you find yourself pondering these questions during a quiet afternoon, remember you’re not alone. You’re part of a long lineage of thinkers who have grappled with the same mysteries. And while the answers may remain elusive, the journey of exploration is its own reward.

And perhaps, in that pursuit, we get closer to finding meaning, if there is one at all.

– Divya Priya Rajalingam