Are you free? I’m not asking whether you live in a real democracy. I’m asking whether free will exists.
Are our choices freely made? Is there such a thing as free will? Determinists and their many allies in the brain sciences say no. Free will is an illusion, a handy one to be sure, but an illusion nonetheless. The free will skeptics say that because everything has a material cause, something — unconscious habit etc. — precedes our will.
We don’t think about this debate much, but the truth is the dominance of the determinists does influence much of our daily lives. Pessimists and fatalists who can’t see things getting better rely in large part on determinist arguments. It’s not surprising in a culture with a strong streak of Calvinist predestination.
But now, there is some new scientific evidence that free will exists after all. Obscure as the arguments are, they could one day influence the mood of democracy. And that would be something.
Many years ago Benjamin Libet conducted some experiments that seemed to show that we actually made decisions BEFORE we were conscious of those decisions. In other words, free will was an illusion. Now, however, a new study indicates that the unconscious or pre-conscious signal in the brain measured by Libet — called an RP or “readiness potential” — may simply be the brain preparing to make a decision. Your decisions are conscious — and free — after all.
There are other brain studies that seem to show moments or pauses between conscious “moments” in which the brain relaxes somewhat, helping make sure that what you thought a moment ago doesn’t absolutely determine what you think next.
Does any of this ultimately matter? I think it does. Even if much of the public is unaware of the obscure debates (and does that itself say something more about freedom?), widespread public awareness of a kind of ultimate human freedom could and should influence our very public discussions about justice, freedom, and political organization.
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About Glenn W. Smith
Glenn W. Smith has spent the past 30 years in journalism and politics, where he’s made a name for himself as a writer, campaign manager, activist, think tank analyst and, as Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas says, a “legendary political consultant and all-around good guy.” “There’s no one like him,” says author George Lakoff. CNN commentator Paul Begala says, “He has unmatched experience, a graceful pen (or pixel nowadays) and deep insight into the best and worst of us.” Novelist Sarah Bird speaks of his “lucid and lyrical” prose. And, she says, he’s fun. Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington says Glenn writes with “grace and abundant humor” and “uses his colorful experiences in Texas to enlighten us all.”
Smith led Ann Richards’ successful 1990 campaign for Governor of Texas. He worked for former Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Earlier, Smith was a political reporter for the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Post. He’s coordinated national campaigns for groups such as MoveOn.org. In 2004, he authored the highly acclaimed book, The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from Extinction. He also wrote Unfit Commander, a book that detailed George W. Bush’s mysterious disappearance from military service.
In 2004, Smith was featured in the film, Bush’s Brain, a documentary about Karl Rove. Smith provided commentary on Rove’s role as then-President Bush’s senior advisor. He has made numerous media appearances with Chris Mathews on Hardball, Joe Scarborough, Brit Hume, and many others. He writes a regularly for top national web sites, including FireDogLake and Huffington Post.
As a senior fellow at George Lakoff’s prestigious Rockridge Institute in Berkeley he studied, wrote and taught on the power of metaphor and narrative in political communications. He also lectured on religion and politics at the Starr King School for Ministry in Berkeley. As a sponsor and organizer, he has pulled together numerous national events with progressive religious leaders. He also organized a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King at Riverside Church in New York City as well as “Freedom and Faith” bus tours, which was a nationwide campaign for social justice and progressive values.
Smith’s play, Double Play, which explored American Western myths and legends, was held over to sold-out audiences. He’s even written and performed songs in the Americana tradition, such as his best-known song, “Helping Marty Robbins,” a tribute to his hometown, Houston.
Most recently, Smith is the creator of DogCanyon, a political and cultural web site covering state, national and global issues from a Texas perspective. DogCanyon is an exhilarating and unique site that gets the connections between politics and culture and explores both the personal side of politics and the ups, down, craziness and beauty of “life its ownself,” as humorist Dan Jenkins would say. DogCanyon offers heartfelt personal essays, hard-hitting political analysis, and, most importantly, laughs.
As Paul Begala said, Smith writes in “the finest, firmest, fearless tradition of Texas essayists like Molly Ivins.”
And if there is free will, then
Every great mistake has a halfway moment when it can be recalled and perhaps remedied.
author Pearl Buck
I don’t make mistakes. I date them. author Meghan
Every decision you make is a mistake. author D Edward
Never Interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. Napolean
I made a wrong mistake. Yogi Bear
LS
Free will is at the same time, both the most precious gift and the greatest challenge which has been bestowed upon us by our Creator, and the very choices we make – large and small, define us as the people we are.
Well, this is not one of those places we might disagree. Well said, Doug.