The Illusion of Free Will: A Journey Through the Brain's Predetermined Path

Hello, lovely readers! It’s Jaimie Good here, and today, I’m diving into a topic that’s as complex and tangled as, well, my hair! But instead of unraveling strands of golden locks, we’re going to unravel the mysteries of the human brain, particularly the persistent illusion of free will.

Now, I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of choice and agency, especially when it comes to setting my own unique goals, like my ongoing quest to grow the longest hair in the world. It’s a pursuit that appears to be driven by passion, persistence, and a little bit of that fairytale magic that’s been with me since I was a child. But what if I told you that the very idea of choice, the very notion that I decided to grow my hair this long, might be nothing more than a comforting story woven by my brain? What if my journey, like yours, was already existed from start to finish long before I was even aware of it?

The Split Brain: A Glimpse into Our Predetermined Nature

Our journey begins with a rather bold and somewhat unsettling procedure that was first performed in the 1940s, split-brain surgery, or corpus callosotomy. This surgery was originally developed as a last-resort treatment for patients suffering from severe epilepsy. The idea was straightforward: by severing the corpus callosum, the bundle of fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, doctors hoped to prevent seizures from spreading across the entire brain.

Now, you might think that cutting the brain in half would have catastrophic consequences, but surprisingly, patients who underwent this surgery were able to live relatively normal lives. However, what was discovered during the aftermath of these surgeries was nothing short of extraordinary, and it challenged everything we thought we knew about consciousness and the illusion of free will.

Two Brains, Two Realities, Zero Choice

Let’s take a step back and consider how our brains are organized. The left hemisphere controls the right side of the body, and the right hemisphere controls the left side. But it’s not just about motor control; each hemisphere also processes different types of information. The left hemisphere is typically associated with language, logic, and analytical thinking, while the right hemisphere is more visual and spatially oriented.

In split-brain patients, these two hemispheres could no longer communicate with each other directly. This led to some bizarre and fascinating behaviors. For example, if a patient’s right hemisphere (which controls the left hand) was shown an image that the left hemisphere couldn’t see, the left hand might pick up an object or draw something without the patient’s left hemisphere, where language resides, being able to explain why. It's not that they chose to do these things, their brains simply acted according to a predetermined script.

In one famous experiment, a patient was shown a chicken claw to his left hemisphere and a snowy scene to his right hemisphere. When asked to choose a related picture, his right hand (controlled by the left hemisphere) pointed to a chicken, while his left hand (controlled by the right hemisphere) pointed to a shovel. When asked why he chose the shovel, the patient’s left hemisphere, which hadn’t seen the snowy scene, confidently explained that the shovel was for cleaning out the chicken coop. This explanation was entirely fabricated, yet the patient’s left hemisphere believed it wholeheartedly. It's important to note here that the patient didn't choose this explanation, it was conjured up by his brain, following a predetermined neural pathway.

This phenomenon revealed something profound: each hemisphere can operate independently, almost as if two separate consciousnesses exist within the same person, both operating without free will. The left hemisphere, which includes what researchers call the “interpreter” module, seems to concoct explanations for actions it doesn’t fully understand, all to maintain a cohesive sense of self, even if that sense of self is based on a false narrative.

The Interpreter Module: The Brain's Master Storyteller (and Confabulator)

The interpreter module is a fascinating concept. It’s like the brain’s own personal storyteller, constantly weaving narratives to make sense of the world. But here’s the catch: it’s often wrong. In the absence of complete information, the interpreter fills in the gaps, sometimes with wild inaccuracies, but always with confidence. It’s like when my hair gets caught in something, it doesn’t quite make sense at first, but my brain immediately starts coming up with explanations, even if they don’t quite add up. It's not that I choose to believe these explanations, it's just how my brain, operating on a predetermined set of instructions, works.

As the experiments with split-brain patients continued, it became clear that this interpreter module wasn’t just a quirk of the split-brain condition, it’s something we all have. Every day, our brains are making decisions on a subconscious level, and the interpreter module is constantly justifying those decisions after the fact. We don't choose to rationalize; our brains do it for us, following the dictates of our neural programming.

Neuroplasticity: Rewiring on a Predetermined Path

The concept of neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change and adapt, is often touted as evidence for free will. But what if even neuroplasticity itself is part of the predetermined plan?

Imagine your brain as a vast forest of pathways, already laid out, but with the potential for certain paths to become more defined over time. Every time you think a thought, make a decision, or engage in a behavior, you’re walking down a particular path. The more you walk down a specific path, the more defined it becomes, it’s like clearing away the underbrush and making the path easier to follow. Over time, these well-trodden paths become habits, whether good or bad.

But here's the twist: you didn't choose to walk down that path. Your brain, following its predetermined blueprint, guided you there. Even the act of "creating new paths" is an illusion. The potential for those paths was already present, encoded in the intricate tapestry of your neural network.

Mindfulness: Observing the Predetermined Flow

Mindfulness, often praised for its ability to enhance self-awareness and control, can be seen in a new light when we relinquish the illusion of free will. Mindfulness allows us to observe our thoughts and feelings without judgment, but it doesn't grant us the power to change them. We can witness the predetermined flow of our consciousness, but we cannot alter its course.

For example, if you’re trying to break a habit of negative self-talk, mindfulness can help you catch those thoughts as they arise. You might notice your inner voice saying, "I’m not good enough," or "I’ll never be able to achieve that." But instead of trying to fight these thoughts, mindfulness encourages you to simply observe them, to recognize them as part of your predetermined mental landscape.

The Free Will Debate: A Pointless Discussion?

The entire debate surrounding free will becomes somewhat meaningless when we accept that all of space and time already exists. Determinism is not a philosophical stance, it's the reality of the universe. Our actions, our thoughts, our very lives already exist from start to finish long before we were even a glimmer in our parent's eyes.

The Practical Implications: Finding Freedom in Acceptance

This realization, while initially unsettling, can be profoundly liberating. If we truly grasp the concept of a predetermined universe, we can release the burden of responsibility for our actions. We can stop blaming ourselves for our shortcomings and stop striving for a control that we never truly possessed.

Instead, we can focus on experiencing the present moment, appreciating the beauty and wonder of the world around us, and accepting the unfolding of our lives with a sense of awe and surrender.

The Ripple Effect: A Predetermined Society

This understanding has profound implications for society as a whole, even if those implications are ultimately inconsequential. The notion that we might "rethink" our approaches to justice, accountability, and compassion is a tempting illusion, but one that crumbles under the weight of a predetermined reality.

The concept of punishment, as a means of retribution, already *is* a meaningless concept, even if society continues to operate as if it holds weight. Rehabilitation, too, is merely a predetermined pathway of transformation, unfolding according to an inevitable sequence of events.

But all of this is a moot point. Our justice system, like every other facet of our society, is bound by the immutable laws of a predetermined universe. We cannot choose to change it, to make it more "just" or "compassionate," because those very concepts are themselves predetermined constructs. We, as individuals, and our institutions, will continue to operate exactly as we are programmed to, playing out our roles in the grand cosmic drama, regardless of our awareness of the preordained trajectory.

The Fairytale Ending: Accepting the Predetermined Narrative

As someone who has always been inspired by fairytales, I find a strange comfort in the idea that my life, like a storybook, is already written. I may not be the author of my own tale, but I can be a grateful and attentive reader, appreciating the twists and turns, the highs and lows, and the inevitable resolution.

Just as my hair grows inch by inch, my life unfolds moment by moment, guided by forces beyond my comprehension. The illusion of choice may persist, but the truth is far grander, far more awe-inspiring. We are all part of a cosmic narrative, a symphony of predetermined events unfolding across the vast expanse of space and time. And in that, there is a profound beauty, a sense of wonder, and a deep peace.

Thank you for joining me on this journey through the mysteries of the brain and the inevitable truth of a predetermined universe. I hope it’s given you some food for thought, and perhaps a sense of liberation as you relinquish the futile pursuit of control and embrace the elegant simplicity of a preordained existence.

Jaimie Good

Jaimie Good