(July 15, 2016 at 12:36 pm)mh.brewer Wrote:(July 15, 2016 at 10:31 am)RozKek Wrote: One can also say we're only conscious observers. Even though it is my neural net doesn't mean I ultimately decided it, because I didn't decide how the neurons in my neural net should interact. Like Alex said it's also dependant on how "I" am defined. However you defined I as my brain I assume. However, you say you are your neural net (brain) therefore it is your choice however you don't decide when you get hungry, when you feel pain, when you get the urge to pee, your reflexes, your knee jerk reactions etc but you are still your brain and those things have origins in the brain. Same can be said for your decisions, you are your neural net but the decision isn't under your control the same way your urge to pee isn't under your control.
My brains involuntary actions/reactions may not be under conscious control but it is still my brain making sub/un conscious decisions for my survival. My conscious brain can over ride some of those activities (short term) if I choose to. You have that ability also.
My conscious decisions are under my control, my neural nets control. That part is the part that I consider free will.
BTW, I didn't define I as brain, I said "part of". My brain is only part of "I". Also, if by "knee jerk" you mean deep tendon reflex, that does not involve your brain at all but peripheral nerve function.
Sounds like we will have to agree to disagree. A choice.
But even then it is ultimately not your choice to choose to override some of those activities. Why did you/what caused you to want to override those activities? Your will, but it wasn't your decision to want/will that.
