Science of Self (Humans)

by romansh , Sunday, March 09, 2014, 16:28 (3910 days ago) @ David Turell

Romansh: Is not the self's recollection of it's choices a confabulation of all the bioelectrochemical actions?
> 
> Confabulate is to lie. I think that is the wrong conclusion. 
It would be be if confabulate just meant lie ... confabulate-> Just because we don't understand how the brain gives us what it does give, is no reason to suspect we are not in control of our brain and self. We are unaware, as kids, that we are creating ourselves in memories and personal conclusions. 
Books like Subliminal (Leonard Mlodinow) and The Self Illusion (Bruce Hood) give us (well me) plenty of examples why we my be a little suspect that we are, at least, not in complete control. Ultimately it is bioelectochemical reactions that are doing the 'controlling'. -> The brain's plasticity conforms all of it, and, poor choice of word but fits, we emerge. In some way miraculous, but it happens to all of us, and then some of us doubt when we see a glimpse how it is being done. We don't understand enough yet to be critical of the process, or suspect it is nefarious.-I agree we don't understand how it is done, but I am not taking it hook, line and sinker that it is done at all. I think a little skepticism is warranted here. And if the self and free will are illusory, it has been worthwhile for me to examine the ramifications of the no(t) self.