Question: Article review - Do we have free Will?
Concisely describe the main arguments and evidence presented by the paper Benjamin Libet ‘Do We Have Free Will?’ Libet (1999)
1. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments and evidence presented by the paper.
2. Summarise the ways in which the paper may contribute to a broad understanding of the nature of human consciousness and/or mental issues.
Answer: To address the controversial free will vs. Determinism debate, Libet (1999) took an experimental approach to investigate whether we have independence in regards to the decisions we make. Libet asked subjects to perform the voluntary act (sudden flick of wrist) at anytime they felt the urge or wish to do so, whilst neural activity in the brain associated with motion known as Readiness potentials (RPs) was measured. Results showed RPs in the required act happened 550msec prior to muscle contraction, therefore it seemed the brain was undeniably commencing the violation process way before the activation of the muscle which produced the act. Due to this it was crucial for Libet to find out the time when a subject’s conscious will appeared as this would provide insight into what governed the decision. To establish these subjects were asked to report the position of a second hand clock when t...(short extract)
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- Subject: Psychology
- Course: The Brain and Behaviour
- Level: Degree
- Year: 2nd/3rd
- Mark: 66%
- Words: 1192
- Date submitted: June 13, 2013
- Date written: November, 2011
- References: Yes
- Document type: Essay*
- Essay ID: 4853
