Ben Libet's now legendary experiment into the relationship between conscious experience of volition and the BP, which seemed to suggest Free Will was questionable, still left the door open when subjects were able to prevent intended movement at the last moment, the 'Free Won't' as it was subsequently called.
It now seems that 'Free Won't' is no more under our conscious control than Free Will.
There is no Free Won't
The question of how important the idea of free will is to people is clearly one for debate, but the question I'm putting on the table is how much weight should we give neuroscience in this debate, if indeed any at all?
MM
It now seems that 'Free Won't' is no more under our conscious control than Free Will.
There is no Free Won't
The question of how important the idea of free will is to people is clearly one for debate, but the question I'm putting on the table is how much weight should we give neuroscience in this debate, if indeed any at all?
MM
"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions" - Leonardo da Vinci
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
