Free Will

Authors: Forrer K*

Volume 6, Issue 2

Abstract

In view of the fact that dreams are still the Cinderella of science, it is not surprising that they seldom figure in philosophical arguments. It is even less surprising that they are never presented as evidence that free will is nothing but wishful thinking. The reason for this is, of course, the widespread perception that dreams are either a kind of waste product of waking or at best a mechanism that reinforces memory. A case is made here that the dream is in fact the ideal ground upon which to build a thesis demonstrating that free will is but a glittering, ego boosting deception. It is even superior to Professor Libet’s electronic device because the dream’s oracular character can be tested by anyone who is prepared to follow my test procedures outlined in my essay, “To Test or not to Test that is the Question”. (Heidelberg University, Germany, IJoDR Vol. 7 No. 2 2017), while experimental procedures, like those of Professor Libet are only available to a few professionals. As well as that, Libet’s procedure is as susceptible to criticism as dream interpretation. Indeed, it has been taken apart from every critical quarter with some of the critics denying the validity of the experiment and some of them adopting it as irrefutable proof that free will is an illusion.

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