A Sense of Free Will: the consciousness quagmire (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, September 21, 2015, 20:41 (3138 days ago) @ dhw


> dhw: I'm pleased to have support from both of you as regards conscious choices being integral to a definition, but I don't actually know why Romansh objects to it, since it does not make the slightest difference to the two premises above. My point is that unless we are aware of a choice, we will not use the faculty we call free will (whether it is free or not.) Perhaps one of you (or someone else) can explain the problem to me.-To me cause and effect have nothing to do with my sense of free will. I know forces in the universe allow life. Life evolved and our brains have consciousness, all contingent on the fine tuning. So what!!! Cause and effect created my neurons, but I control my neurons, my thoughts, my ruminations, my plans, my intentions. I have a free will of intentionality. That is all that counts. Romansh's contentions, based it seems on Blackmore's teachings, are overlabored, with no basis in my appreciation of reality. How many angels can dance on the pin head? Romansh seems to be conducting his life meaningfully in a fruitful fashion, even though he seems to question his own controls. Strange. I have found the whole discussion meaningless for me as a former body mechanic.