Re:Benjamin Libet's argument against free will is being ques...
by bengy5959 on Friday November 08, 2019 @03:41PM
(#21486499)
Couldn't it be that the unconscious mind influences the conscious mind to make it seem like we agree with the action that was taken?
Re:Benjamin Libet's argument against free will is being ques...
by kazinator on Friday November 08, 2019 @04:02PM
(#21486718)
Not if the action was planned days in advance.
Re:Benjamin Libet's argument against free will is being ques...
by wetpaws on Friday November 08, 2019 @03:41PM
(#21486496)
>we would often disagree with the action that was taken
It's not that uncommon
Re:Benjamin Libet's argument against free will is being ques...
by empath75 on Friday November 08, 2019 @03:59PM
(#21486685)
People frequently do things that they don't want to do or didn't plan to do -- most notably drug addicts and alcoholics.
Re:Benjamin Libet's argument against free will is being ques...
by kazinator on Friday November 08, 2019 @04:02PM
(#21486709)
Note that regret isn't the same thing as "my hand moved without any intent from me, WTF?".
Re:Benjamin Libet's argument against free will is being ques...
by friedman23 on Friday November 08, 2019 @05:10PM
(#21487415)
>my hand moved without any intent from me, WTF?
This is how addiction actually manifests. Put an alcoholic in front of a glass of whisky and often they will grab and attempt to drink without conscious thought.
Re:Benjamin Libet's argument against free will is being ques...
by empath75 on Friday November 08, 2019 @04:18PM
(#21486899)
But that also happens quite frequently and people rationalize it. Do you make a conscious decision to put your hand in front of your face when someone throws something at you?
Concretely, we are not surprised that our finger moved; we believe we wanted to do that and we agree with that action.
Moreover, this readiness potential phenomenon works on short time scales. The will operates on long time scales. I can plan at 11:55 that I will move my finger at 12:00, five minutes ahead. And then when the time comes, do just that. Still, the readiness potential will play out the same way: the commands to move the finger precede the conscious awareness of the finger moving.