Subject-Object Equilibrium in Forged Will: A Framework for Navigating Influence and Constraint

Preface: A Philosophy Forged, Not Inherited

Forged Will was never built as a rejection of past wisdom—but as a vessel shaped by it. The philosophical mantras and truths from traditions like Stoicism, Buddhism, Taoism, Existentialism, and Bushido were not discovered in books or classrooms alone. They were, as the founder describes, "golden nuggets dropped into my hand at just the right moment." These insights resonated before they were understood—a signal sensed before it could be named.

Forged Will does not treat these traditions as a strict lineage. Instead, they are seen as scattered truths, encountered when needed, then reforged through the lens of lived experience, hardship, and recursive refinement.

Just as Einstein expanded upon Newton, Forged Will expands upon Stoicism and other philosophies. It doesn’t discard what came before—it carries it forward, adding precision, adaptability, and systemic analysis rooted in constructed agency.

And rather than reinventing wisdom for the sake of novelty, Forged Will embraces what already lives in the cultural psyche, integrating it into a new framework of action, influence, and transformation.

I. Defining Subject-Object Equilibrium

The Subject-Object Equilibrium is a foundational concept within Forged Will, ensuring that practitioners balance influence (subjectivity) and constraint (objectivity) in their approach to life. It prevents philosophical drift into either passive determinism (pure object) or delusional self-determination (pure subject).

Visual Diagram 1: Equilibrium Forces

         [Subject: Influence]  
              ↗ ↖  
[Equilibrium]—⚖—  
              ↖ ↗  
         [Object: Constraint]  

Balanced forces of influence (shaping) and constraint (adapting), inspired by Hegel’s dialectics.

• Pure Object (Passive Determinism): “I’m stuck due to the economy.” **

• Pure Subject (Delusional Control): “I’ll manifest a promotion overnight.” **

• Forged Will Perspective: We are both shaped by conditions and shapers of conditions—our agency emerges in the tension between these two forces.

Mantra for Recalibration:

“Am I only reacting, or am I also shaping? Am I only shaping, or am I also adapting?”

II. The Role of Subject-Object Equilibrium in Forged Will

1. Preventing Misalignment

• Too much objectivity → Fatalism: Ignoring Stoic dichotomy of control.

• Too much subjectivity → Fantasy: Rejecting Buddhist māyā (illusion).

2. Connection to Ecological Dynamics

Case Study: Elite Ice Climbers
Climbers adapt to ice density (constraint) by switching tools (influence), exemplifying multi-stability in skill execution.

Visual Diagram 2: Feedback Loop

[Environmental Constraints] → [Perception-Action Coupling] → [Agency]  
       ↑_______________________________↓  

3. Real-World Application

• Training & Adaptation: Skill emerges from positioning within constraints, not raw effort (e.g., firefighters using Recognition-Primed Decision Model).

• Combat & Strategy: Miyamoto Musashi aligned with natural forces, not opposing them.

III. Forged Will Evolutions of Philosophical Mantras

Philosophical Integration Chart

Connecting Traditions to Forged Will's Subject-Object Equilibrium

Key Citations Explained

1. Stoicism

   • Amor Fati ([1][6]): Emphasizes embracing fate while actively shaping responses, as detailed in Stoic and Nietzschean analyses.

   • Dichotomy of Control ([1][6]): Epictetus’ distinction between controllable and uncontrollable factors grounds Forged Will’s “parameter adjustment.”

2. Buddhism

   • Anicca ([2][7]): Impermanence theory underscores the need to adapt to shifting constraints.

   • Anātman ([2][7]): Non-self doctrine aligns with Forged Will’s rejection of static identity.

3. Taoism

   • Wu Wei ([3][8]): Effortless action mirrors ecological positioning by leveraging natural dynamics.

4. Existentialism ([4]): Sartre’s “freedom within facticity” maps to Forged Will’s balance of agency and constraint.

5. Bushido ([5]): Pragmatic efficiency aligns with strategic resource allocation in training and decision-making.

Visual Concept

Equilibrium Feedback Loop

[Environmental Constraints]  
       ⇅  
[Perception-Action Coupling] → [Agency]  
       ⇅  
[Adaptive Feedback] → [Recalibration]

Inspired by ecological dynamics, this diagram illustrates how agency emerges from iterative adjustments to constraints.

Case Study: Applying Equilibrium

Scenario: A leader navigating organizational crisis.

• Object-Heavy Imbalance: “Market forces dictate failure; no point acting.”

• Subject-Heavy Imbalance: “We’ll force a turnaround through sheer effort.”

• Equilibrium Approach:

  1. Acknowledge Constraints (e.g., economic downturn, supply chain issues)[2][7].

  2. Shape Conditions (e.g., pivot services to meet new demand)[3][8].

  3. Adapt via Feedback (e.g., monitor customer responses, refine strategy)[4].

This integration strengthens Forged Will’s academic rigor while maintaining accessibility. Let me know if you’d like to expand specific sections!

IV. Practical Implementation: The Forged Will Model

1. Three-Step Calibration Check

1. “What constraints am I acknowledging?” (e.g., economic limits)

2. “What conditions am I actively shaping?” (e.g., pivoting services)

3. “Am I adapting based on feedback?” (e.g., A/B testing strategies)

2. Training the Equilibrium

• Ecological Positioning Drills: Train in varied conditions (e.g., balancing a book while writing).

• Mental Cueing:

  • “Forge, but don’t ignore the fire.” (Grounding in reality)

  • “Tension is where will is forged.” (Struggle as refinement)

3. Recognizing Red Flags

Object-HeavySubject-Heavy“This is just the way I am.”“Reality will bend to my will.”

V. Philosophical & Historical Alignments

• Marcus Aurelius: Exercised influence amid political constraints.

• Simone de Beauvoir: Constructed meaning within absurdity.

VI. Conclusion: The Core of Forged Will

Forged Will does not accept a static self—it embraces constructed agency, where action and adaptation exist in dynamic tension.

Final Takeaway:

“If it stops feeling like forging, it’s probably broken.”

VII. Next Steps

• Visual Additions: Feedback loop diagrams for blog/book.

• Case Studies: Leadership crises, rehabilitation models.

• Chapter 5 Anchor: Integration with Philosophical Traditions.

References

1. Bourdieu, P. (1977). Outline of a Theory of Practice.

2. Hegel, G.W.F. (1807). Phenomenology of Spirit.

3. Strawson, P. (1959). Individuals: An Essay in Descriptive Metaphysics.

4. Klein, G. (1998). Sources of Power.

5. Epictetus. Enchiridion.

6. Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta.
   ... [Full references expanded from provided sources]

Acknowledgments:

This blog post was researched and written with assistance from perplexity AI and ChatGPT

Sources [1] Amor Fati: The Formula for Human Greatness - Daily Stoic https://dailystoic.com/amor-fati-love-of-fate/ [2] Impermanence (Buddhism) - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impermanence_(Buddhism) [3] Wu Wei – Doing Nothing 無爲 - The School of Life https://www.theschooloflife.com/article/wu-wei-doing-nothing/ [4] How does existentialism address the concept of freedom in ... - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Existentialism/comments/1bobwnb/how_does_existentialism_address_the_concept_of/ [5] What was the ancient warrior philosophy of Bushido? - History Skills https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/year-8/bushido/ [6] Amor Fati: the Stoics' and Nietzsche's Different Takes on Loving Fate https://philosophybreak.com/articles/amor-fati-the-stoics-and-nietzsche-different-takes-on-loving-fate/ [7] What is Anicca? - Definition from Yogapedia https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/10243/anicca [8] Wu Wei: The Art of Effortless Action - Stephan Joppich https://stephanjoppich.com/wu-wei/ [9] Existentialism - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/ [10] Bushido | Meaning, Code & Virtues - Lesson - Study.com https://study.com/academy/lesson/bushido-definition-code-virtues.html [11] What Is Amor Fati? - What Is Stoicism? https://whatisstoicism.com/stoicism-definition/what-is-amor-fati/ [12] Anicca: 12 definitions - Wisdom Library https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/anicca [13] Wu wei - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_wei [14] Freedom, Choice, and Success from An Existentialist Perspective https://gbsadler.blogspot.com/2016/03/freedom-choice-and-success-from.html [15] What is BUSHIDO? Loyalty, Honor, Respect, Courage, Honesty ... https://mai-ko.com/travel/japanese-history/samurai/bushido-the-code-of-samurai/ [16] What is Amor Fati? The Powerful Stoic Path of Acceptance https://orionphilosophy.com/amor-fati-meaning-stoicism/ [17] Dukkha, anicca and anatta - Life and teachings of the Buddha - BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zd8bcj6/revision/5 [18] Can someone explain the concept of Wu Wei to me? : r/taoism - Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/taoism/comments/xm0sdx/can_someone_explain_the_concept_of_wu_wei_to_me/ [19] Existentialism - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existentialism [20] Bushido - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido