We tend to take it for granted that conscious thoughts precede our actions. However, the US scientist Benjamin Libet’s groundbreaking 1980s experiments on the relationship between brain activity, conscious thoughts and physical actions caused some scientists and philosophers to rethink the concept of ‘free will’ and ask whether our decisions are made subconsciously before we’re even aware of them.
Can we really make conscious decisions, or is agency just a trick of the brain?
16 March 2015
videoPhilosophy of mind
We may never settle the ‘free will’ debate, but tapping into it is still worthwhile
32 minutes
videoPhilosophy of mind
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Why making if-then connections might be the key to consciousness
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What will we do when neuroimaging allows us to reconstruct dreams and memories?
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Knowing if you’re awake seems simple. Why has it vexed philosophers for centuries?
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