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You will be shown a timer, counting down from 60s to 0s. At a time of your choosing, tap on the desk with your pen. Record the time at which you decided to tap on the desk psychlotron.org.uk
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Libet’s (1985) study of voluntary action 350ms Onset of readiness potential Action carried out PP reports intention to act electrical brain activity psychlotron.org.uk
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What does Libet’s finding imply about the role of conscious choice in behaviour? psychlotron.org.uk
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The determinist stance Conscious ‘choice’ does not determine behaviour Epiphenomenalism Mental states are a by-product of brain states that have no causal properties NB: see the ‘mind-body problem’ psychlotron.org.uk
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The determinist stance Libet’s compromise: The brain generates many possible ways of behaving Free will is the ‘chooser’ psychlotron.org.uk
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The homunculus problem This is called an infinite regress. It is bad. Libet’s position requires a ‘chooser’ to decide how we act psychlotron.org.uk
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Can free will exist in a universe governed by physical laws? Is it possible to preserve ‘freedom of choice’ without falling into dualism? Can we do psychology without being determinists? psychlotron.org.uk
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Reading Gross (1996) pp.874-876 Pennington (2003) pp. 229-231 psychlotron.org.uk
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