Comments on: What is Free Will? http://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/ Topics from multidimensional biopsychosocial perspectives Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:44:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rich Life Carnival #37 | Rich Life Equals Better Lifehttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-597550 Rich Life Carnival #37 | Rich Life Equals Better Life Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:18:44 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-597550 [...] Blogger presents What is Free Will? posted at Brain Blogger, saying, “This post continues my discussion of free will and [...] [...] Blogger presents What is Free Will? posted at Brain Blogger, saying, “This post continues my discussion of free will and [...]

]]> By: bill dhttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-597091 bill d Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:56:20 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-597091 you can not stop being you , therefore you have no free will , i thought that neurologists had already proved that the action centre of the brain kicks in before the recognition part ? you can not stop being you , therefore you have no free will , i thought that neurologists had already proved that the action centre of the brain kicks in before the recognition part ?

]]> By: sandyhttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-596631 sandy Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:05:44 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-596631 it most important part of our body so we must care for it...And also advise to other people for be carefull. it most important part of our body so we must care for it…And also advise to other people for be carefull.

]]> By: Sergio Pulidohttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-577184 Sergio Pulido Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:45:17 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-577184 "Free will can be defined as choosing one’s actions or course"http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_ariely_asks_are_we_in_control_of_our_own_decisions.htmlI think there are a lot of things that makes us take a course of action that we think we made alone, but we didn't “Free will can be defined as choosing one’s actions or course”

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/dan_ariely_asks_are_we_in_control_of_our_own_decisions.html

I think there are a lot of things that makes us take a course of action that we think we made alone, but we didn’t

]]> By: bobhttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-545794 bob Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:42:48 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-545794 I think we talk about free will the same way we talk about our emotions and thoughts - like they have an existence apart from "us". This sensation of existing is partially the result of the fuctional necessity of a point of view. The sensation of an ongoing point of view leads us to falsely infer that we exist somehow separately from our environment. This sensation is so strong and we have invested so much meaning into it, that, under normal circumstances, we equate its reality with the appearance of phenonomen.Scientific materiialism takes the apppearance of phenonomen as the definition of reality. But this reults in a basic error - that things exist somehow separately from each other. Phenonomen exist only in relation to other phenonomen. The appearance of functionality requires a point of view. Parts are only parts because of their relation to a whole. A whole is a whole only because it has parts and becuase we identify a function for it.The sensation of free will exists without a doubt. That sensation has functional value in our cognitive processes increasing our ability to adapt and respond to our environment. What's wrong with that?Oh of couse MEANING! What gives life meaning is helping each other. Everything else is extra and just gets in the way. I think we talk about free will the same way we talk about our emotions and thoughts – like they have an existence apart from “us”. This sensation of existing is partially the result of the fuctional necessity of a point of view. The sensation of an ongoing point of view leads us to falsely infer that we exist somehow separately from our environment. This sensation is so strong and we have invested so much meaning into it, that, under normal circumstances, we equate its reality with the appearance of phenonomen.

Scientific materiialism takes the apppearance of phenonomen as the definition of reality. But this reults in a basic error – that things exist somehow separately from each other. Phenonomen exist only in relation to other phenonomen. The appearance of functionality requires a point of view. Parts are only parts because of their relation to a whole. A whole is a whole only because it has parts and becuase we identify a function for it.

The sensation of free will exists without a doubt. That sensation has functional value in our cognitive processes increasing our ability to adapt and respond to our environment. What’s wrong with that?

Oh of couse MEANING! What gives life meaning is helping each other. Everything else is extra and just gets in the way.

]]> By: u jointshttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-541957 u joints Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:14:17 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-541957 Looking forward to the next instalment. Looking forward to the next instalment.

]]> By: Carnival of Positive Thinking : Widows Quest - Redefine Yourself and Rediscover Life after a Losshttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-541545 Carnival of Positive Thinking : Widows Quest - Redefine Yourself and Rediscover Life after a Loss Sun, 31 May 2009 17:35:32 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-541545 [...] Blogger presents What is Free Will? posted at Brain Blogger, saying, “This post continues my discussion of free will and [...] [...] Blogger presents What is Free Will? posted at Brain Blogger, saying, “This post continues my discussion of free will and [...]

]]> By: Jaredhttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-539366 Jared Tue, 26 May 2009 21:49:43 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-539366 I agree T_U_T - free will cannot simply be indeterminism. It's such a hard concept to really define. It's a bit like describing the taste of salt - we know what it tastes like but it's quite hard to describe it, especially if you don't use things like "it's not sweet" and so forth.Thanks Evan and thanks for your example. That example is similar to what many neuroscientists view about free will. They believe that our actions are determined, except for just at the end when we can make a choice and stop that behavior. That's how many neuroscientists reconcile free will with determinism - free will holds the trump card that can be played to overcome natural (deterministic) behaviors. That's a bit simplistic of an explanation but it will do.Stephen, you raise some excellent points. I can't really address the question of whether or not there is a Self in part because it's not an area I've studied much but also because it starts a completely different (but related) philosophical discussion. There is a fair amount of "selfhood" research in psychology and neuropsychology, it's just not something I've read yet. I agree T_U_T – free will cannot simply be indeterminism. It’s such a hard concept to really define. It’s a bit like describing the taste of salt – we know what it tastes like but it’s quite hard to describe it, especially if you don’t use things like “it’s not sweet” and so forth.

Thanks Evan and thanks for your example. That example is similar to what many neuroscientists view about free will. They believe that our actions are determined, except for just at the end when we can make a choice and stop that behavior. That’s how many neuroscientists reconcile free will with determinism – free will holds the trump card that can be played to overcome natural (deterministic) behaviors. That’s a bit simplistic of an explanation but it will do.

Stephen, you raise some excellent points. I can’t really address the question of whether or not there is a Self in part because it’s not an area I’ve studied much but also because it starts a completely different (but related) philosophical discussion. There is a fair amount of “selfhood” research in psychology and neuropsychology, it’s just not something I’ve read yet.

]]> By: Stephen Pritchardhttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-539170 Stephen Pritchard Tue, 26 May 2009 00:35:26 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-539170 Ignoring quantum physics for a second:The world = deterministic The world = me + 'the rest of the world not me' "The rest of the world not me" is *not* deterministicBecause the "me" can act on and influence "the rest of the world not me".So once you define something and call it a 'self', then free will easily follows. The real question is not 'is there free will?', its 'is there a self?'Can you really draw a boundary between you and the rest of the world in a scientific manner? Ignoring quantum physics for a second:

The world = deterministic
The world = me + ‘the rest of the world not me’
“The rest of the world not me” is *not* deterministic

Because the “me” can act on and influence “the rest of the world not me”.

So once you define something and call it a ‘self’, then free will easily follows. The real question is not ‘is there free will?’, its ‘is there a self?’

Can you really draw a boundary between you and the rest of the world in a scientific manner?

]]> By: Encephalon #71: Big Night « Neuroanthropologyhttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-538901 Encephalon #71: Big Night « Neuroanthropology Mon, 25 May 2009 19:40:43 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-538901 [...] Jared Tanner, Brain Blogger What is Free Will? [...] [...] Jared Tanner, Brain Blogger What is Free Will? [...]

]]> By: Bob Toddhttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-538070 Bob Todd Sat, 23 May 2009 21:04:12 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-538070 http://home.earthlink.net/~btodd2/freewillnote.html http://home.earthlink.net/~btodd2/freewillnote.html

]]> By: Evanhttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-537834 Evan Fri, 22 May 2009 23:34:48 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-537834 Hi Jared,Looking forward to the next instalment.Perhaps free will is being aware of an impulsion to behave one way and not doing this but something else. Eg I want to swear at simple minded determinists but choose to engage them in conversation instead(?) Hi Jared,

Looking forward to the next instalment.

Perhaps free will is being aware of an impulsion to behave one way and not doing this but something else. Eg I want to swear at simple minded determinists but choose to engage them in conversation instead(?)

]]> By: T_U_Thttp://brainblogger.com/2009/05/22/what-is-free-will/#comment-537557 T_U_T Fri, 22 May 2009 14:33:51 +0000 http://brainblogger.com/?p=2775#comment-537557 If free will is just indeterminism then random white noise generator is the freest thing int the universe. If free will is just indeterminism then random white noise generator is the freest thing int the universe.

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