The Human Animal (Humans)

by David Turell , Thursday, August 13, 2009, 19:38 (5372 days ago) @ xeno6696

When you couple this with Libet's experiments that show that our brains seem to make decisions before we're consciously aware of making them, the case for a penultimate free will isn't on as firm of a ground as one would like. (Google Benjamin Libet's experiments.) His experiments were in the context of movement, but the questions it raises about free will make the certainty of free will much less settled, in my mind. - I'm aware of his studies. Our proprioceptive sense of body movement and position will give us understanding of our movements, but everything takes time. I decide to move instantaneously before the movement itself. Granted our axons carry the electric impulse like an electric wire. Now the impusles coming back tell me I have moved the arm, even if I am not looking at it.I consciously moved that arm even if there are very tiny time lags. I play the piano and fingers move as I read notes. I did this as a kid. I read notes and the fingers played. As far as I am concerned it is all free will. Conscious thought and recognition of movement take time. I think you are misinterpreting his work.
And you say it yourself: 'our brains seem to make decisions before we are consciously aware'. Electricity is at the speed of light.