The burden of proof relating to conciousness, free choice and rationality

[robvalue]

The thing I find hardest when considering free will is what the default position is. I can see an argument from both sides. Of course, it all comes down to the definitions of free will. Even defining what is "me" is extremely difficult.

Intuitively, "I" am something a bit more than just chemicals doing stuff. But scientifically, I can find no basis for this, and it seems to me that consciousness is just a bi-product of natural processes.

But there we go again, what is conciousness? It's so hard to objectively assess something that you can only experience through itself.

The final filter is always "me", whatever that is. It seems to be a problem that isn't going away in a hurry.

If I had to put my money somewhere, I'd say "I" am just an observer to the processes of my mind, manifesting themselves in an illusion. The more my life has gone on, the more I feel that way and the less I feel like "I" have any control at all.