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Religion

Jim__

(14,578 posts)

18. I'm not sure what you mean by "*that* unconscious decision making process."

Reply to Voltaire2 (Reply #17)

Tue Nov 13, 2018, 10:27 AM

Nov 2018

I don't usually make decisions in my sleep; although I can't say it never happens. But, my guess is that any such decision is not a free, willful act. Believing that people have free will does not mean that you believe every decision is a free, conscious act.

I do believe that sleeping on it can clarify some issues involved in making a decision. My understanding is that the brain does process information while we sleep. When I sleep on something, I don't normally make the decision in my sleep, but do often find the decision easier to make after a night's sleep.

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Do zombies have free will? [View all] Voltaire2 Nov 2018 OP

Eh? Since there are no zombies, what's the point of inventing them just to prove a point? The... TreasonousBastard Nov 2018 #1

What point do you think it is proving? Doodley Nov 2018 #3

The point that discussion about zombie free will is worthwhile... TreasonousBastard Nov 2018 #4

Are you saying robots can have free will? Doodley Nov 2018 #6

I'm saying the discussion about robots and free will makes more sense than zombies... TreasonousBastard Nov 2018 #10

Here are real zombies that appear to have free will marylandblue Nov 2018 #12

Probably, yes, but it does depend on what you mean by "conscious" marylandblue Nov 2018 #2

Are you saying pain, hunger, pleasure, etc., are essential for free will? Why would that be? Doodley Nov 2018 #7

I am saying they are inputs into the decision-making process marylandblue Nov 2018 #11

No. Consciousness is necessary for self-awareness and self-awareness is necessary for free will. Jim__ Nov 2018 #5

So when you decide to sleep on it Voltaire2 Nov 2018 #17

I'm not sure what you mean by "*that* unconscious decision making process." Jim__ Nov 2018 #18

Processing information while we sleep Voltaire2 Nov 2018 #19

To be clear, you've changed your question. Jim__ Nov 2018 #20

Have you ever seen a definition of 'free will' that wasn't either self-referential or circular? htuttle Nov 2018 #8

And yet people intuitively believe they have free will. Voltaire2 Nov 2018 #16

The probably mean they have a decision process that is at least partly conscious marylandblue Nov 2018 #21

Do Trumpanzees have free will? RainCaster Nov 2018 #9

You said what I came to say. Lucky Luciano Nov 2018 #14

Do any fictional characters have free will? PoindexterOglethorpe Nov 2018 #13

They do if the author says they do. marylandblue Nov 2018 #22

I've seen them at Starbucks.. Permanut Nov 2018 #15