Experience of ‘Self’ and Free Will: A Study on the Emergence of Consciousness from Behaviourists’ and Functionalists’ Points of View

Authors: Suresh M

DOI: 10.23880/phij-16000233

Volume 5, Issue 1

Abstract

Consciousness is the labyrinth of one’s everyday experience. One’s experience becomes an authentic episode of verification because it falls in the framework of consciousness. One becomes aware that an experience becomes his/her experience due to the ‘owning up of’ and this leads to the feeling of ‘self’. When a conscious individual experiences ‘selfhood’ one is able to exercise one’s agency and this is primary for moral responsibility and ethics. This experience of ‘selfhood’ itself is interrelated to the notion of free will. The experience of ‘Self’ and free will is the assurance that one is conscious and a deeper study into these notions leads us to understand the emergence of consciousness in brighter light. This study attempts to explore the notions of self and free will from behaviourists’ and functionalists’ points of view and concludes that the emergence of consciousness is invariably interrelated to the feeling of ‘selfhood’ and ‘free will’ in a conscious agent. 

Keywords: Experience; Self; Embodiment; Individuality; Consciousness

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