Comments on: Just How Free is Free Will?

By: T. Jay Johnson

T. Jay Johnson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:23:35 +0000

So if scientists find that there is no free will, why be afraid to report their findings. Technically, the public shouldn’t change their behavior after the results are annouced than before if there is truely no free will. Right?

By: FJ

FJ — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:46:39 +0000

I had a conversation with some friends about the idea of free will a little while ago. We came to the (unscientific but perhaps common sense) conclusion that while it’s impossible to make longterm changes consciously, it is possible to change our habits. We all floss not because we want to, but because we have learned the habit by conscientious parents and dentists. We can learn to exercise regularly starting a pattern of going to the gym after work, maybe with a “gym buddy” to keep us going until it becomes a habit. Setting up good habits take conscious free will out of the equation and let the unconscious take over.

By: Randall Ulbricht

Randall Ulbricht — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:59:10 +0000

Now I am baffled. The “fat gene” has small effect? I see so many kids of heavy people having weight control issues. I guess it is my behavior tendencies picked up from the parents. That limits the excuses a little, does it not?

By: Randy Rieland

Randy Rieland — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:03:08 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Kathy. The brain is amazingly complex and it seems that we’re just beginning to understand how complex.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:47:16 +0000

Very interesting stuff. Thanks for all the links. I even read a link within a link: Eddy Nahmias NYT article.
I think defining all the concepts involved can be very tricky and interpreting experimental results can be tricky.
The brain is so complex…it is hard for me to fathom how they can set up a foolproof experiment.
The brain parts involved in quick impulsive and unimportant decisions and the brain parts involved with long thoughtful and important decisions must require different levels of consciousness and memory.
My guess is that free will is variable depending upon age and experience and the types of decisions that are being made.