Are You in Control?

You make a very good point and with the evidence offered by Du Sautoy it would be difficult to argue against. I do agree with the fact that we make decisions subconsciously and the brain goes through neuronic processes to convey the information to our bodies, however; I do not believe that we as humans are completely subjected to the power of influence. There are countless influences that effect humans in someway throughout their lives, that cannot be denied. You, on the other hand, are suggesting that we are directed through life by these influences and almost like we are unable to react how we'd like to react to certain influences. I believe that certain experiences in life can effect our notions/beliefs/values but I don't necessarily believe that our notions/beliefs/values are set in our subconscious. Because if that were the case they wouldn't be able to change right? Based off my personal experiences in life and what I've seen from others; many people can change those parts of their thinking. So is it possible to submit to the idea that our notions/values/beliefs are set in our subconscious? Or is that where they originate and we build upon them elsewhere?

This question of Free Will is very interesting because this data that is shown does not show that we do. If our body knows that we will make a decision 6 seconds before we consciously can think about it how could one argue that we have Free Will? But to answer your question, does it come from our subconscious or am I in control, I am not sure how to answer it. I do not know what I think is the correct answer to this. It is hard to analyze and describe our subconscious. People make different decisions which means our subconscious' are different from each other.

This question of Free Will is very interesting because this data that is shown does not show that we do. If our body knows that we will make a decision 6 seconds before we consciously can think about it how could one argue that we have Free Will? But to answer your question, does it come from our subconscious or am I in control, I am not sure how to answer it. I do not know what I think is the correct answer to this. It is hard to analyze and describe our subconscious. People make different decisions which means our subconscious' are different from each other.

This question of Free Will is very interesting because this data that is shown does not show that we do. If our body knows that we will make a decision 6 seconds before we consciously can think about it how could one argue that we have Free Will? But to answer your question, does it come from our subconscious or am I in control, I am not sure how to answer it. I do not know what I think is the correct answer to this. It is hard to analyze and describe our subconscious. People make different decisions which means our subconscious' are different from each other.

With the evidence provided it does make you just think of how your brain can already make decisions before we even know it. I agree with this but i feel that since we learn from experience that some decisions are made that early only because we know what is coming. Ill use your picture as an example. Lets say your driving how do you know what exit to make? Maybe you have been to this place before so your brain can figure it out before you can actually react to it. Regardless this is an astonishing fact and knowing this changes your whole perception of life.

It is very strange to think that our free will is merely a function of our anatomy. This truly does demonstrate the relationship between the unconscious mind, and our conscious, more active thought processes. The brain is 6 seconds ahead of us, yet I am brought back to a timeless saying- "think before you act." Such ideas as that lead me to believe that the power of action does derive from subconscious values, beliefs and motivations, but not entirely. There is something distinct about the deliberateness of acting on a decision that takes subconscious thinking a step further. Du Sautoy's wonderment concerning decision-making do demonstrate the power of our subconscious, but we have the final say.

It's weird to think about this stuff. Whenever I think about this topic, I think about the concept of motivation. For example, you're sitting at your computer, stumbleupon-ing your life away, when you should absolutely be studying. Finally, you reluctantly crack open your text. I believe that if we were really entirely subconscious beings, we wouldn't experience this. We'd never do anything that we genuinely had to do reluctantly, i.e. make ourselves do something we don't want to do.