tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583590687956540859.post3975031081419313585..comments2024-01-18T00:18:10.209-08:00Comments on Xenophilia (True Strange Stuff): Free Will is an Illusion: Brain Scanners Can See Your Decisions Before
You Make ThemXenohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04080841307174630996noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583590687956540859.post-40799473027175427932008-04-18T00:27:36.000-07:002008-04-18T00:27:36.000-07:00Many people I've talked to about this have bee...Many people I've talked to about this have been bothered by it. I'm still trying to get my head around it. <br><br>How can free will exist if we decide seven seconds before we know we decided? <br><br>That makes conscious choice an illusion, and consciousness an epiphenomena. In other words, our conscious awareness doesn't do anything, it just is the output, the end result of our brain doing things. <br><br>Our belief that we exist and are in control of ourselves are both illusions. I find that comforting in a strange way. Sit back and enjoy the ride, right?Xenohttp://www.xenophilia.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583590687956540859.post-56820847595403742772008-04-17T15:05:32.000-07:002008-04-17T15:05:32.000-07:00The "subconscious mind" is no longer a v...The "subconscious mind" is no longer a valid concept in psychology. It's a long explanation, but what has replaced it is the "pre-conscious." <br><br>That means that we all have loose ideas which suddenly focus into one main idea. You might get many signs that you're going to be fired, and then suddenly figure it out, and it will seem like you knew it all along.<br><br>Also, freewill isn't considered a valid concept in psychology either. Rather, it's more like a religious and legal concept which serves to lay blame on people who violate rules.TheAdleriannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583590687956540859.post-19646948487492372212008-04-17T01:21:48.000-07:002008-04-17T01:21:48.000-07:00Ah, excuse me, but "seven seconds" is n...Ah, excuse me, but "seven seconds" is not quite the same, it seems to me, "as long before you knew about it". In the realm of other than specially decision-making, it seems humans are more complicated and this may relate to the decision making process itself. We all have a subconscious or unconscious mind that is working all the time. We continously see, for example, far more than we are acutely aware of. Many of our thoughts or thought-like processes occur outside the realm of our awareness. And, undoubtedly they precede our conscious thoughts. Perhaps it is something similar to this that these scientists tapped into. I would say we do have a "free-will" but greatly influenced by our personal history and environment, as well as our society, culture, .....Annnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583590687956540859.post-52649133686979259412008-04-21T09:06:42.000-07:002008-04-21T09:06:42.000-07:00If would be fun to see you there Ann. Conversation...If would be fun to see you there Ann. <br><br>Conversation can be therapeutic.TheAdlerianhttp://www.phillyfreedomforum.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6583590687956540859.post-27497806277479890122008-04-20T16:17:48.000-07:002008-04-20T16:17:48.000-07:00Ok, I looked it up and you're right. About th...Ok, I looked it up and you're right. About the Upanishads Schopenhauer said, "It has been the solace of my life, it will be the solace of my death!" but he also said he was influenced by Kant, who I mentioned, and Plato (Remember Plato's thoughts on the unconscious or mind: the story about charioteer with 2 horses pulling in different directions?) But, Freud isn't Schopenhauer and I would agree with you concerning your comment about Freud. Ellenberger said as much in his history of the unconscious, i.e. it preceded Freud. Anyway, if the origins of the study of the unconscious is partially Eastern, then so be it. This doesn't make its study in the sciences then or today any less meaningful or significant or any less pertinent in our lives. <br><br>As I wrote above it would be silly to imagine a "free will" as you might describe it. I think your idea of "free will" is much like your idea of me wanting to think like a "Chinaman," (but I'm sure you meant to write "Asian"). Like I said, I'm a compatibilist or what Wm. James called a “soft determinist”, but I also feel our ability to will ourselves evolves as we mature. <br><br>About going to the site ... perhaps.Annnoreply@blogger.com