Her Dark Star
Scholar
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2010
- Messages
- 120
Split from the thread - is free will an illusion, yet necessary for ethics.
I would like a discussion, evidence for/against, suggested reading etc on whether free will is physically possible. Is the brain capable of producing a choice that isn't predetermined?
To give some context - I'm not asking about philosophy or theological arguments but the mechanics of the brain/mind. I believe in limited free will (purely based on my own experience) that although we are limited by all kinds of constraints and have all kind of influences upon us within those boundaries we have the power to make a choice. However I'm not a neurologist.
The counter point was brought up (I hope that I summarise it accurately) that the brain is a set of deterministic principles based on physics/chemistry and that every 'choice' is the result of those principles - that at the moment of choice it is in fact already made for you.
Lastly whether or not the brain is capable of producing a free choice what kind of experiment could there be to evidence it?
Many thanks.
I would like a discussion, evidence for/against, suggested reading etc on whether free will is physically possible. Is the brain capable of producing a choice that isn't predetermined?
To give some context - I'm not asking about philosophy or theological arguments but the mechanics of the brain/mind. I believe in limited free will (purely based on my own experience) that although we are limited by all kinds of constraints and have all kind of influences upon us within those boundaries we have the power to make a choice. However I'm not a neurologist.
The counter point was brought up (I hope that I summarise it accurately) that the brain is a set of deterministic principles based on physics/chemistry and that every 'choice' is the result of those principles - that at the moment of choice it is in fact already made for you.
Lastly whether or not the brain is capable of producing a free choice what kind of experiment could there be to evidence it?
Many thanks.