RE: FBI; Replacing The Phantom Self
Scientists have since long shown that the brain already made a decision what to do, half a second before we are consciously making that decision. This is exactly what heated the fire under the whole discussion about the existence of free will.
What this cause me to wonder, is why those who are so worried with the idea of "free will" don't trust their own brains? It's not like there's a disconnect, except in their assumption that "Ancient = Inferior"? It occurred to me the other day, that in every way that matters... Our "conscious self" is just a waking dream experienced by the stately, noble beasts which play host to us. We "sophisticated entities" are but a fleeting fiction... a very interesting manifestation of an incredibly common evolutionary adaptation. Intelligence is hardly unique to the human species, much less emotion...
The more and more that I accept how "not-so-exceptional" that humans are, the more miraculous and sacred they become, in my eyes. For those poor bastards that so limit themselves as to need a creationary deity to bestow their feeling of worthiness... I kinda, sorta pity... Not trying to be a judgemental shit-ass or nothing, but... When one understands just a little bit about evolutionary theory, the stupefying magnitude of our existence as a "rational beast" much less the probability of any individual manifestation thereof (IE: person) is difficult to actually comprehend... it's hard to explain, in any commonly relate-able way, just how fucking BIG A DEAL a person, -any- person, is...
Even Melvin...
Driving feels different than being driven. The illusion of free will is a necessary one; we need to feel in control, to have agency over our own bodies and minds. I can't really imagine otherwise, I can't remember a day when I've not had this feeling, so it's impossible for me to comment on what it would be like without this deep rooted sense of control. But this is why I agree that the discussion about free will is interesting in science, but useless in everyday live.
Also we fear what we can't see and our subconscious is forever hidden. I believe these are the main reasons why most just can't accept that free will doen't really exist. I've had friends who had "black-outs" after a drinking night and were so drunk they started doing things they'd never normally do. That was all good fun, but I always stayed worried about the part where they said the next morning that they remembered nothing. One of them ran full speed into a three foot high climbing rack for children on a playground and woke up with his entire stomach black and blue, very painful... But he didn't know who did that to him. He didn't remember he did that to himself. But during the "accident" he acted drunk, but was acting by himself. I guess it's scary for some people to know that they are capable to do things that they don't think they're capable to do, because "it's just not like them". We fear losing control of ourself. We need to feel in control of ourself and our actions and our choices.
My two cents on the whole unnecessary debate on free will. And free will isn't the only thing evolution deemed necessary for us to be fooled about :-) Like that Melvin isn't a big deal... Well, he is and besides, he's right too ;-)