Volitional Brain: Towards a Neuroscience of Freewill - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0907845118 ISBN 13: 9780907845119

Publisher: Imprint Academic, 2000

Synopsis

It is widely accepted in science that the universe is a closed deterministic system in which everything can, ultimately, be explained by purely physical causation. And yet we all experience ourselves as having the freedom to choose between alternatives presented to us ― 'we' are in the driving seat. The puzzling status of volition is explored in this issue by a distinguished body of scientists and philosophers.

About this title

About the Author:

Benjamin Libet, Professor of Physiology at University of California, San Francisco, is best known for his discovery of the half-second delay before the onset of conscious experience and its implications for our understanding of the problem of voluntary action. Anthony Freeman is managing editor of the Journal of Consciousness Studies and a priest in the Church of England Keith Sutherland is executive editor of the Journal of Consciousness Studies

Review:

"The collection is wide-ranging in its scope... and reports some fascinating empirical work on the brain activity that appears to underlie volitional behaviour."

(A.C. Grayling Times Literary Supplement)

"This book is an unsurpassed paragon of open-mindedness, the proof of which is that it includes as its closing essay a trenchant review of itself."

(Daniel C. Dennett)

"A timely compilation of essays on the brain processes that organize voluntary action."

(Karl Pribram Contemporary Psychology)

About this edition

• Publisher: Imprint Academic
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0907845118
• ISBN 13: 9780907845119
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320
• Editor: Anthony Freeman, Benjamin Libet, Keith Sutherland