The Nature of the Human Brain
...urgery (obviously), brain damage, drugs etc. As in a mathematical equation, the inputs determine the outputs. The inputs for the brain are experience. This is likened to the movie Short Circuit, in which Johnny Number 5 says, “Stephanie, I need input! Inputs, Stephanie! Inputs!” Without these inputs, #5 will not be able to continue his life. The experiences are processed by ones brain to create behavior. This is applicable to the simplest of activities (such as head trauma from the birth canal) to the highest of philosophical thoughts (such as this essay). Given the functions of brain, how then does one justify the notion of free will? Where in the complex set of chemical and electrical interactions does free will come into play? Is there a certain part of the brain, a specific lobe, that is designated for free will? Are specific neurons throughout the brain collectively serving as the vehicle for free will? Is the origin for free will based on our desire to always be in control? Are we too afraid to admit there is no specific part in our brains that can make decisions independent of the rest of brain? Does the destruction of the idea of free will mean that we cannot blame people for their actions? No. For example, if somebody performs an action that one sees as immoral, wrong or just undesirable, s...