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Volition and the Function of Consciousness

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Downward Causation and the Neurobiology of Free Will

Part of the book series: Understanding Complex Systems ((UCS))

Summary

What are the psychological functions that could only be performed consciously? People have intuitively assumed that many acts of volition are not influenced by unconscious information. These acts range from simple examples such as making a spontaneous motor movement, to higher cognitive control. How ever, the available evidence suggests that under suitable conditions, unconscious information can influence these behaviors and the underlying neural mechanisms. One possibility is that stimuli that are consciously perceived tend to yield strong signals in the brain, which makes us think that consciousness has the function of such strong signals. However, if we could create conditions where the stimuli could yield strong signals but not the conscious experience of perception, perhaps we would find that such stimuli are just as effective in influencing volitional be havior. Future studies that focus on clarifying this issue may tell us what the defining functions of consciousness are.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department 355D Sch Ext, Columbia University, 1190 Amsterdam Avenue MC: 5501, New York, NY 10027

    Hakwan C. Lau

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  1. Hakwan C. Lau
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, Fuller Graduate Schools, 135 N. Oakland Ave, 91182, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Nancey Murphy

  2. Mathematics Department, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, 7701, Rondebosch, South Africa

    George F. R. Ellis

  3. Department of Philosophy, Indiana University, 1033 E. Third St., Sycamore Hall 026, 47405-7005, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Timothy O’Connor

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Lau, H.C. (2009). Volition and the Function of Consciousness. In: Murphy, N., Ellis, G.F.R., O’Connor, T. (eds) Downward Causation and the Neurobiology of Free Will. Understanding Complex Systems. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03205-9_9

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