Many neuroscientists believe that our sense of “free will,” or freely chosen actions, is an illusion.
Experiments by Benjamin Libet and his followers seem to show that our brains initiate actions
before we become consciously aware of having made a decision to act.
Other neuroscientists and philosophers argue that the decisions in these experiments
involved simple hand movements with no moral implications.
Perhaps important decisions that are made over days or weeks are indeed influenced by our conscious intentions.
A more holistic view is that all of our thoughts, intentions, and actions
emerge from our nervous system embedded in our physical body.
This complete, integrated organism is the real “I” that makes decisions and carries them out.