I thought some of you might like this.. (since we are all experimenting with brainchemistry here hehe) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroscience_of_free_will Merry X-mas and Peace and Love for all!! Edit: "It is difficult to identify exactly when a person becomes aware of their action. Some findings indicate that awareness comes after actions have already begun in the brain" action comes first. consciousness comes second. I always thought that by default humans are not conscious. I guess the consciousness itself is just an observer that has nothing to do with the actions of the body robot. Isn't that fascinating? by default we are not really in control of our actions. We are just here to observe them.
I didn't read all the wikipedia but I think it works on both levels. For instance, one may be unconscious about putting their hand on a hot stove before becoming consciously cogniscent that their finger is there and that it needs to be removed to prevent from burning it. Pain receptors alert the brain, brain alerts the mind and controls the hand and there is a reflexive action to move it. However having played sports, when I was a pitcher in baseball I often would consciously try to locate a pitch in a certain location due to thinking of where I may find the hitter's weakness in their swing, what pitches are working for me. Etc. And occasionally rejecting the signals that I received from the catcher as well to throw a certain pitch in a certain location, before I even made an action to Set to pitch the ball. Now I suppose some physical alerts in my brain could precede my action of throwing the ball as well but I view this as putting a limit on free will, not necessarily negating it. There is not anything in the term 'free will' which inherently suggests an infinite expendeniture which is what I think may mislead some when discussing free will. The fact that I can then even choose to step off the mound after coming set to pitch, or lookback a runner shows even a greater degree of freewill and that unlike the first example there is more then a reflexive action taking place.
