Free Will, Consciousness, Identity (Identity)

by dhw, Sunday, August 19, 2012, 21:12 (4265 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: A viewpoint from a neurophysiologist that supports the concept that we do have free will. It is not a Sam Harris illusion with a ghost in the works. Libet questioned, his results only 10% removed from chance:-http://www.bigquestionsonline.com/content/does-contemporary-neuroscience-support-or-cha...-"One reason it is easy to move from the assumption that neural processes cause behavior to the presumption that consciousness does nothing is that neuroscience still lacks a theory to explain how certain types of brain processes are the basis of conscious or rational mental processes. Without such a story in place, it is easy to assume that neuroscientific explanations supersede and bypass explanations in terms of conscious and rational processes. But that conclusion is unwarranted. Explanations in organic chemistry do not explain away life; they explain life. A more complete scientific theory of the mind will have to explain how consciousness and rationality work, rather than explaining them away. As it does, we will come to understand how and when we have the capacities for conscious and rational choice, and for self-control, that people ordinarily associate with free will. These are the capacities to reflect on our desires and reasons, to consider which of them we want to motivate us, and to make efforts to act accordingly."-This researcher categorically rejects the concept of dualism, and so I'm afraid I find his arguments incoherent. Without dualism how can you avoid the conclusion that the brain is the source of the mind, of which the will is just one part? All he seems to be saying is that eventually we might find a "more complete" scientific theory to explain how we have free will. Others will argue that eventually we might find a scientific theory to explain how we have the illusion of free will. In other words, he has no more idea than the rest of us. And as usual, there is no attempt to explain what constitutes the "we" which reflects, considers and acts. Everyone seems to take identity for granted, as if it was not part of the mystery.