A Sense of Free Will: requires a properly functioning brain (Introduction)

by David Turell , Friday, August 14, 2015, 00:10 (3177 days ago) @ romansh

"But, according to neuroscience, none of us are here."
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> Rom: Thank you, now I understand ... it is this one line that you object to.
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> When I read this the author(s)was referring to what I call an intrinsic self. I thought it was fairly clear from the text in general.
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> Now from a materialistic neuroscience point of view it is hard to see how a intrinsic self might form and almost by definition, I would argue, it cannot. If you can show how a materialistic intrinsic self might form, I would be interested.-I would think a newborn baby has no sense of self, and so I think a sense of self is a developmental phenomenon, especially as I view our plastic brain as working with us as we develop. The whole issue of consciousness is part of the problem. As a child develops an individual personality and ego defense mechanisms appear this requires the use of one's consciousness. Of course the brain is material, but can you explain your concept of 'materialistic intrinsic self', because I'm not sure what you are driving at.
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> Rom: Now if you have magical consciousness pervading the universe and this consciousness is doing whatever, then that too, leaves little room for an intrinsic self.-I'm still confused. I don't think one is born with 'self', but our consciousness is there from the beginning, although our awareness of it has to develop. Babies do respond in the womb to outside stimuli.