Free will and determinism

[Ninshub]

Again, thanks for bringing that up, because I think you're completely right there.

Also, that non-psi-informed perspective (or, even worse, closed to its possibility), even though I think may be wrong or lacking in some aspects, may still clue us (me) in on information or concepts I wasn't aware of. I appreciate your links on agency - I'll have a look. That book by Stewart is also revelatory in seeing non-human animals as having free will in the way she conceives it for human animals.

That book by Stewart is also revelatory in seeing non-human animals as having free will in the way she conceives it for human animals.

I'm reading one of her papers now.

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Yeah I agree, it's a non-starter for those reasons. I stopped listening to it when I reached that point. (At least interesting to see a position where free will is based on agency.)

For what it's worth, in general I don't relish climbing down into the rabbit hole of academic philosophical studies and papers, because it seems endless and fruitless, and I'm not getting any younger.

For what it's worth, in general I don't relish climbing down into the rabbit hole of academic philosophical studies and papers, because it seems endless and fruitless, and I'm not getting any younger.

I would agree that there seems to be a lot of the texts in philosophy, especially by believers in the materialist faith, that will become obsolete by the acceptance of Psi, NDEs, etc.

Panpsychism and Free Will

P.Goff

There has been a resurgence of interest in panpsychism in contemporary philosophy of
mind. According to its supporters, panpsychism offers an attractive solution to the mind-
body problem, avoiding the deep difficulties associated with the more conventional options
of dualism and materialism.

There has been little focus, however, on whether panpsychism can help with philosophical problems pertaining to free will. In this paper I will argue:

(A) that it is coherent and consistent with observation to postulate a kind of libertarian agent
causation at the micro-level, and

(B) that if one if believes in libertarian agent causation at the macro-level, there are significant advantages in also postulating its existence at the micro-level.

btw, that interview takes place on a youtube podcast channel that is exclusively devoted to the mind-body problem. Which is potentially interesting. However the host says he's a convinced atheist. Which seems to close the doors automatically on a lot of perspectives!

(I do see he at least has Donald Hoffman as an interviewee.)

As an example, one perspective is that a soul is in some way (though words are inadequate) a 'part' of God. In that context, solving the mind-body problem would also reveal the presence of God. Which would be tricky for a 'convinced atheist'.

Consciousness, Free Will, and the Mind

Thomas R. Verny M.D.

• General anesthesia does not shut down the brain globally and does not always produce a complete absence of consciousness.
  
  
• Our current understanding of matter alone is unlikely to explain the nature of mind.
  
  
• All animals have the neuroanatomical, neurochemical, and neurophysiological substrates of conscious states.
  

In this context, it is not surprising that anesthetists as a group stand out from other scientists and philosophers as having contributed much pioneering research on consciousness. When people are administered an anesthetic, they seem to lose consciousness or at least stop reacting to their environment. Anesthetic agents do not suppress brain function globally but exert dose-dependent effects on specific brain systems that block the perception of pain.

The question central to consciousness under anesthesia is whether consciousness is fully lost during anesthesia or does it persist but in an altered state? A joint research project of the University of Turku, Finland, has explored in-depth this question. Their studies revealed that the brain processes sounds and words even though the subject does not recall it afterward. The findings indicate that the state of consciousness induced by anesthetics is similar to natural sleep. While sleeping, people dream and the brain observes the occurrences and stimuli in the environment subconsciously. Under anesthesia as in sleep, we can be of two minds. Classical neuroscience is unable to provide an explanation of this phenomenon.

Consciousness, Free Will, and the Mind

Thomas R. Verny M.D.

In this context, it is not surprising that anesthetists as a group stand out from other scientists and philosophers as having contributed much pioneering research on consciousness. When people are administered an anesthetic, they seem to lose consciousness or at least stop reacting to their environment. Anesthetic agents do not suppress brain function globally but exert dose-dependent effects on specific brain systems that block the perception of pain.

The question central to consciousness under anesthesia is whether consciousness is fully lost during anesthesia or does it persist but in an altered state? A joint research project of the University of Turku, Finland, has explored in-depth this question. Their studies revealed that the brain processes sounds and words even though the subject does not recall it afterward. The findings indicate that the state of consciousness induced by anesthetics is similar to natural sleep. While sleeping, people dream and the brain observes the occurrences and stimuli in the environment subconsciously. Under anesthesia as in sleep, we can be of two minds. Classical neuroscience is unable to provide an explanation of this phenomenon.

So much for the Materialist claims that anesthesia "switches off" consciousness, then...

https://veja.abril.com.br/ciencia/o-livr...ientistas/
Use google translate, can't copy it because of paywall.
This is a example of the stuff that brazilian media spreads, note how they don't mention the "no return" studies and the proof of the conscious veto. It infuriates me honestly, specially because of the celebratory tone and arrogance.