BRAIN, MIND AND FREEDOM
Peter Henke
Abstract:
Libertarians’ accounts of free-will, either in terms of philosophical dualisms or
quantum indeterminacy, are largely incoherent. Their central claim that the
conscious experience of freedom of choice is, in fact, evidence that this is
actually the way things are, is not supported by brain research. Determinism
seems to work quite well in the macro-physical world of sticks and stones, but
needs modifications to account for conscious, intentional causation in decision
making. It is proposed that the conscious experience of freedom is an emergent
feature of complex brains, and it is seen from a first-person perspective
(ontology). Brain states, which in “bottom-up” fashion cause conscious states,
are seen from a third-person perspective (ontology). Consciousness names a
state the brain is in, sometimes. The sense of freedom we experience is
constructed by our brains because it is adaptive. It evolved to monitor aspects
of the propitiousness of our environment. It tracks the control and the
flexibility we experience in our lives, conditions which conferred a selective
advantage in our evolution.
Based on Dean’s Scholars Lecture, St. Francis Xavier University, March 2005.
Brain, Mind and Freedom
A. Libertarianism and Determinism
Compatibalism (“soft” determinism)
Evidence
B. A Just-So Story – Naturalizing Freedom
Biopsychology of Intentional Action
Evidence
Libertarians’ (free-will) indeterminism:
The experience of freedom of choice is, in fact,
evidence that this is actually the way things are.
Major explanatory versions:
Dualisms: doctrine of separate substances/properties
“Homunculus” fallacy
Quantum mechanics: sub-atomic indeterminacy
- random freedom
- amplification problem
- brain evolution in macrophysical world
Determinism vs. causality
Thesis:
Choices we make are necessitated by
preceding causes.
A. Brain constructions:
a. Color vision
b. Split-brain: corpus callosum (Gazzaniga)
Stalinist free-will
c. Readiness potential (Libet)
Plagiarizing free-will
B. Brain disorders:
a. Schizophrenia – neurotransmitter dopamine
b. Addictions, compulsions – dopamine
C. Dopamine: motivation, incentives
D. Learning, cognitive flexibility and responsibility
The experience of free-will is,
in fact, evidence that this is the way
things are ?
A. Brain constructions:
a. Color vision
b. Split-brain: corpus callosum (Gazzaniga)
Stalinist free-will
c. Readiness potential (Libet)
Plagiarizing free-will
B. Brain disorders:
a. Schizophrenia – neurotransmitter dopamine
b. Addictions, compulsions – dopamine
C. Dopamine: motivation, incentives
D. Learning, cognitive flexibility and responsibility
A Just-So Story – Naturalizing Freedom
• Readiness potentials (Libet):
- conscious intention cancels arm movement
• Electrical stimulation of motor cortex (Penfield):
- something happens to me vs. I am making it
happening
Causation in Psychology and Physics:
a. The house collapsed because of the
earthquake.
b. I voted for candidate X because she will
bring honesty to government.
Searle: Intentional causation in psychology;
reasons based on goals, beliefs, purposes, etc.
Overdeterminism Issue:
Psychological reason + brain process
Options:
a. Dualisms
Problem: How non-physical mental states
cause physical brain states
b. Materialism or physicalism
Problems: Eliminating psychological states
Epiphenomenon
Conscious states (motives, beliefs, goals, etc.)
are emergent, phenomenological features of
brains.
Analogy: Water = H2O
- phenomenological vs. molecular features
Conscious state: first-person perspective (ontology)
Brain state:
third-person perspective (ontology)
Searle: causal reduction vs. ontological reduction;
reductive materialism requires ontological
reductions.
Evidence
Penfield’s data: distinction between “what I make
happen” and “what happens to me”
Parietal cortex: representation of our own intentional
states
Temporal cortex: representation of what others do
Frontal cortex: convergence zone
mirror neuron circuits
theory of mind
Feeling of freedom we experience:
1-Selective, evolutionary advantage
2-Monitoring the propitiousness of life conditions
3-What I can make happen versus what happens to me
4-Control of circumstances by making choices versus
being controlled by circumstances
5-Constructed by our brains because it is adaptive
(Psychology: locus of control, self-efficacy, etc.)