4 Comments

1. Mark says:

   September 30, 2006 at 10:20 am

   Cam, to me, like your friend on the podcast, ‘free will’ implies a a decider, a chooser.

   You yourself recently posted something in your blog about asking oneself “what do I have to gain?” from a ‘bad’ experience, instead of saying negative things to yourself like “why am I such a loser?” If there is no free will, then who, or what, is making the choice to focus on the empowering question? It seems very apparent that there is a ‘controler’ or ‘decider’ who is choosing one over the other. But you say there isn’t, so what do you suggest is happening in that moment of decision?

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2. Tan says:

   October 6, 2006 at 9:36 pm

   Cam,
   if you have not already done so:
   Iy ou want read on the experiments of Bejamin Libet, which have been since verified by many scientists (Prof Roth in Germany etc, etc).

   In a nutshell:

   The decision (readiness potential in the neurons) to grab a cup of water is being made before “You” think that you are deciding to grab it. The brain synchronizes the two times so that it seems simultanous and constructs the appearance of free will. This appearance of cause (decision) and act (effect) psychologists argue is important for us not to go mad. is that really so :-).

   read for example at:

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Libet

   or

   http://www.consciousentities.com/libet.htm

   or make “your own” observations.

   Cheers
   Tan

   Reply
3. Tan says:

   October 7, 2006 at 6:19 pm

   He Cam,
   “make your own observations” was not meant for you pal.
   I just copied this message from another spot where it was adressed to everyone.
   I am lazy if there is the chance to be.
   cheers
   Tan

   Reply
4. tea says:

   October 27, 2006 at 9:42 pm

   from what i can see, free will is a choice made when informed by the self through the person. if a will is chosen as a separated isolated person, then it cannot be free.

   enjoy your stay in san fran. if you need a couch, go to LIMN south of market. i’m sure any of those are comfy as.

   Reply