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

by romansh , Friday, August 14, 2015, 22:52 (3175 days ago) @ David Turell
edited by romansh, Friday, August 14, 2015, 23:03

I would think a newborn baby has no sense of self, and so I think a sense of self is a developmental phenomenon, 
I would agree
> especially as I view our plastic brain as working with us as we develop. 
Not exactly, who is this us (or me or I in the singular) at the development stage?
I know what it means for me, but I do have a confusing picture of what it means for you.
> The whole issue of consciousness is part of the problem. 
Only if you believe or assume it drives your actions-> As a child develops an individual personality and ego defense mechanisms appear this requires the use of one's consciousness. 
Does it? 
> 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.
A material intrinsic self is a self that can act independent of cause.-> 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.
Again I am confused, where does the self come from? As far as I can tell it is just a collection of atoms and any resulting physics that might occur. This collection of atoms and resulting physics are formed from the environment ... food, genes etc, experiences. -I would agree a baby is neither born with a self nor a sense of self. As we develop we gain a sense of self not an intrinsic self. Again I think you are imbuing consciousness with properties that I am far from convinced it does actually have. -Babies respond to the environment as does a well struck ball. Complexity may vary. I am having trouble seeing the relevance.