Science of Self (Humans)

by romansh , Sunday, March 09, 2014, 02:48 (3695 days ago) @ David Turell

Well, not for me. I'm still convinced I tell my brain what to do. For example,I just told my body's fingers to type this for you. I've just written a book which dhw suggested I do. He made a choice and asked me out of his free will. I responded out of mine. I realize that the whole episode is biochemically orchestrated, but we both were in control of the event. What do you call that?
compatibilism or prhaps soft determinism. 
William james called it a quagmire of evasion.
Kant called it a wretched subterfuge.
> It is freedom of action. Isn't that free will? 
No
> All those synapses dance around using the connections my brain created for me as I developed from childhood to now. My thoughts and memories went into planning and writing the book, all added by a brain operating about three parts of separation from what I experience. That is why the word 'emergent' is so fuzzy and yet so important a concept. One day we may understand how it all works, but frankly I doubt it.-Is not the self's recollection of it's choices a confabulation of all the bioelectrochemical actions?