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All I'm doing is refuting the strong-negative position (NO free will). I'm not asserting the positive. My sense is that our understanding of consciousness is in pretty early days. Lots of contending notions both scientifically and philosophically, and potentially large domains that are...

I dont believe we've been, or are yet, capable of giving a proper look for the locus of free will. To soon to tell it doesnt exist. To soon to tell we do have it too.

If the path thats set includes you pointing your kids in the right direction, then thats what will happen. If not, nothing you can do about it.

Funny you should ask. Fukuoka, the biggest city on Kyushu, requires you to use official bike parking facilities in the city center. But they are so ridiculously complicated that my local tour guides (I did a half day guided bike tour of the city to start out my trip) said they couldnt even...

I take an interest in Japan news because a few years ago I bike toured around Kyushu and had an amazing time.

I agree neurons are caused to act. I'm just saying in certain cases the cause may be influenced by an emergent free will process thats untethered to physical causation. When (and if) we get to the bottom of understanding consciousness and subjectivity and we find theres no room for such a...

I'm afraid that people are just retreating to the "vibes" they are being marinated in, rather than examining carefully what really went on.

They must have felt pretty good about sweeping to victory. Almost like there was an unstoppable divine plan unfolding.

The same people complaining about election fraud with no evidence commiting actual election fraud for all to see, with a paper trail.

Falsely certifying that you are duly elected to the electoral college? I should hope this kind of nonsense is illegal, with serious consequences.

He sounds like a mess who more than flirts with some wicked notions. I understand he's good at doing raps tho.

Interesting. Its a little severe for my liking based on the pics. I do appreciate the "kit of parts" approach. I think modularity and manufacture will be important for solving our housing shortage crisis in the US.

I think its too soon to tell whether reflective consciousness can or cannot be the origin of a truly novel cause, which then effects "downward" causation upon various neurons. Im not saying this IS the case. Its just seems a bit overconfident to be sure its not.

I guess because "artists are weird". You say that because you cant grasp what motivates them to appreciate things like a particular quality of light. Basically artists are trying to show you what motivates them because it might be something you've been blind to. If they are good, and if you...

Nothing scandalous. Actually it might be entertaining to get your reaction.

I wouldnt even dare show you my friends work.

How do you know that theres not some emergent property of mind that could be the origin of new uncaused causes?

So far the determinists are winning the argument. "Decisions" are made for reasons. At any moment you entirely inherit those reasons. You cant go back and re-write different reasons for yourself that would compel a different outcome. Unless..... there some other influence at play that...

I own a few pieces of original art by an artist / art school professor friend of mine. One thing I like about her work is: its not just one look, or one sitting, and youve pretty much absorbed it all. The works keep giving and changing over the years as I live with them.

Yes, for one iconic example. Japan makes everything into a cute animal, so why not bank notes. Look, here's a cute washing machine from a cheap hotel I stayed at in Fukuoka: