WSU: Free Will and Neuroscience with Alfred Mele

Has neuroscience all but disproved the existence of free will? Philosopher Alfred Mele argues that free will is still alive and well as he critically analyzes experimental data. #WorldSciU
This lecture was recorded on May 30, 2015 at the World Science Festival in New York City.
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[@kagannasuhbeyoglu]

Great content. Thanks WSU 👍

[@francamour1084]

the constant pacing and the camera following it are enough to make one lose their lunch. Yesterday's lunch. If free will is not an illusion, it certainly holds no sway against vomit

[@CoajaCristiandance]

and who tell to subconscious to move the hand?

[@mobieus7]

Your appreciation of donuts told your hand to reach for it. You learned about reaching for things long ago and modified that base function when you found it relevant as you grew.

[@viewer3091]

I don’t know !

[@apdesmits4985]

Arguing that free will exists by criticizing the methodology and/or conclusions of a handful of experiments sounds like a well known logical fallacy to me. The issue should not be the disproof of the existence of free will, but rather the proof that it exists. All meaningful discussion on the question “do I have free will?” should start with a clear and unambiguous definition of what constitutes “I” in that statement. For me, as for most people I suppose, the answer to that is our conscious awareness of what goes on in our brains and bodies, an awareness that is only very partial and superficial at best. Now, even if that awareness gives one the opportunity to alter some of the mental processes ‘at will’, then the question arises what controls the actions of that awareness? A meta-awareness?

[@mobieus7]

Correct. Free will is like constructing a sentence. Choosing the words to convey your idea under the limitations of the structure. Controlling the motivation to use that free will, is what the scientists keep trying to put to the test.