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Free will in the brain?

Neil Levy1,2

  • 1Department of Philosophy, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia. neil.levy@philosophy.ox.ac.uk.

Acta Neurochirurgica
|February 6, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Neuroscience data on the supplementary motor area (SMA) does not resolve the free will debate. Philosophical analysis suggests this is expected, as free will is not a magical power.

Keywords:
Free willRickard L SjöbergSupplementary motor area

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Neurobiology

Background:

  • Commentary on Rickard L Sjöberg's work regarding the supplementary motor area (SMA) and voluntary movement.
  • Examines the interpretation of neurosurgical data in the context of the free will debate.

Discussion:

  • Argues Sjöberg's interpretation aligns with philosophical expectations regarding neuroscientific data and free will.
  • Critiques the notion that empirical data from SMA resections can definitively resolve the free will problem.

Key Insights:

  • Neuroscientific findings on the SMA's role in voluntary action do not inherently settle the philosophical free will debate.
  • The expectation of resolving free will through such data relies on a flawed premise of free will as an empirically measurable, almost magical, entity.

Outlook:

  • Future research should acknowledge the philosophical underpinnings of the free will question.
  • Suggests that a philosophical perspective is crucial for interpreting neuroscientific findings related to volition.
  • Highlights the need to avoid overstating the conclusions that can be drawn from neurobiological data regarding complex philosophical concepts.