The #Libet #experiments are some of the most incredible and controversial studies to rattle the philosophical world. They shifted the entire #freewill debate and, according to some people, it even ended it. To understand the Libet experiments, we have to know that there is a particular part of our brain which controls our ‘readiness potential.’ Your readiness potential is what activates before any voluntary decision. So, if you decide to use your thumb to scroll your phone, then your readiness potential acts first, and then your scrolling thumb comes second. So, what was the experiment? Well, Libet got a group of students, and he told them that they had to lift their hand when they wanted. All subjects were told to note the exact time they ‘chose’ to move their hand. It was speculated that the subject's awareness of moving their hand would come at the same time as the readiness potential activated. But this is not what happened at all. The part of the brain responsible would activate 350 milliseconds before they were aware of the fact. This shows that the #brain ‘chose’ to act before the subjects were aware of even choosing. As Libet concluded, ‘voluntary action appears to be an #unconscious cerebral process. Clearly, free will could not be the initiating agent.’ There are some criticisms of Libet, such as how far this ‘readiness potential’ exclusively serves voluntary action. But the criticisms are inconclusive, and it's generally considered to be good #science . So, next time you reach for a biscuit or you smile at a stranger, remember that your brain has already made that decision for you. #choice #philosophy #education