Two Distinctions That Help to Chart the Interplay Between Conscious and Unconscious Volition
Research initiated by Benjamin Libet suggests that short-term conscious intentions are not the onsets of bodily actions. However, other research, particularly on longer-term intentions, seems to show that at least some conscious intentions are effective. This leads to the idea that volition is a com...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00552/full |
| _version_ | 1817991470152417280 |
|---|---|
| author | Marc Slors |
| author_facet | Marc Slors |
| author_sort | Marc Slors |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research initiated by Benjamin Libet suggests that short-term conscious intentions are not the onsets of bodily actions. However, other research, particularly on longer-term intentions, seems to show that at least some conscious intentions are effective. This leads to the idea that volition is a complex interplay between conscious and unconscious processes. The nature and structure of this interplay is mostly uncharted territory. In this article, I will highlight two currently neglected distinctions that will help to chart the territory. The first distinction is between intentions we become conscious of (passive) and consciously formed intentions (active). The second is Fred Dretske’s distinction between structuring and triggering causes. I will introduce both distinctions by discussing how they tie in with and strengthen recent criticism of free selection paradigms and support the idea that consciously self-initiated action issues from processes of conscious deliberation and/or information integration. I will argue that consciously self-initiated action typically involves consciously formed intentions that are the structuring causes of our actions. This notion of conscious intentional action allows us to identify at least four stages in which unconscious processes co-determine our actions—without undermining their self-initiated character. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:13:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-060b48e52a4b4f86a208263432812782 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:13:43Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-060b48e52a4b4f86a2082634328127822022-12-22T02:20:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782019-03-011010.3389/fpsyg.2019.00552423751Two Distinctions That Help to Chart the Interplay Between Conscious and Unconscious VolitionMarc SlorsResearch initiated by Benjamin Libet suggests that short-term conscious intentions are not the onsets of bodily actions. However, other research, particularly on longer-term intentions, seems to show that at least some conscious intentions are effective. This leads to the idea that volition is a complex interplay between conscious and unconscious processes. The nature and structure of this interplay is mostly uncharted territory. In this article, I will highlight two currently neglected distinctions that will help to chart the territory. The first distinction is between intentions we become conscious of (passive) and consciously formed intentions (active). The second is Fred Dretske’s distinction between structuring and triggering causes. I will introduce both distinctions by discussing how they tie in with and strengthen recent criticism of free selection paradigms and support the idea that consciously self-initiated action issues from processes of conscious deliberation and/or information integration. I will argue that consciously self-initiated action typically involves consciously formed intentions that are the structuring causes of our actions. This notion of conscious intentional action allows us to identify at least four stages in which unconscious processes co-determine our actions—without undermining their self-initiated character.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00552/fullconscious intentionsintentional actionmental causationconscious agencyvolitionself-initiated action |
| spellingShingle | Marc Slors Two Distinctions That Help to Chart the Interplay Between Conscious and Unconscious Volition Frontiers in Psychology conscious intentions intentional action mental causation conscious agency volition self-initiated action |
| title | Two Distinctions That Help to Chart the Interplay Between Conscious and Unconscious Volition |
| title_full | Two Distinctions That Help to Chart the Interplay Between Conscious and Unconscious Volition |
| title_fullStr | Two Distinctions That Help to Chart the Interplay Between Conscious and Unconscious Volition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Two Distinctions That Help to Chart the Interplay Between Conscious and Unconscious Volition |
| title_short | Two Distinctions That Help to Chart the Interplay Between Conscious and Unconscious Volition |
| title_sort | two distinctions that help to chart the interplay between conscious and unconscious volition |
| topic | conscious intentions intentional action mental causation conscious agency volition self-initiated action |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00552/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marcslors twodistinctionsthathelptocharttheinterplaybetweenconsciousandunconsciousvolition |