• Question: If we are what are dna and enviroment makes us is there such thing as free will?

    Asked by b3nurwin to Jemma, John, Katie, Lisa on 22 Jun 2012. This question was also asked by yacof.
    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 22 Jun 2012:

      Hi @b3nurwin

      it is possible to preduct at the level of the whole population what a particular sequence of DNA or an environmental factor might do to behaviour, however that doesn’t mean we can predict what any given individual might be doing at any given time thankfully.

      However what I find more disturbing is the observation that the brain activates regions associated with for instance moving a limb before you are aware that you want to move your limb. This suggests that by the time you’ve had the though ‘I want to move my hand’ the brain has allready decided that you will and is simply informing your consciousness after the fact – that I find scary.

      However I take comfort in the fact that I am not aware that I do not have free will!

      Jemma

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