Does “alien hand syndrome mean that we don’t really have free will? Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor discusses:
This neurological condition occasionally afflicts patients who have had split-brain surgery or other procedures or injuries that disconnect regions of the brain. They experience involuntary movements of limbs. Most commonly it is the left arm, which seems to have a mind of its own. The classic example, which the commenter mentioned, is a patient who intentionally buttons her shirt with her right hand while her left hand follows, unbuttoning her shirt, which she doesn’t intend! The predicament points to the fact that while free will is immaterial, appetite (desire) is a material power of the mind that arises wholly from brain processes. Michael Egnor, “[Does “alien hand” syndrome show that we have no free will?” at Mind Matters
View from the cheap seats: We better keep emphasizing that “alien hand” doesn’t mean that politicians are not responsible for what they do. You never know where that’ll end up…
Also by Michael Egnor on free will: Can mere products of nature have free will?
Does brain stimulation research challenge free will?
Is free will a dangerous myth?
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Also: Quantum randomness gives nature free will (Robert J. Marks) Whether or not quantum randomness explains how our brains work, it may help us create unbreakable encryption codes
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Do quasars provide evidence for free will? Possibly. They certainly rule out experimenter interference.
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