Epistemological Remarks on Libet’s Experiments on Free Will: Between Voluntarism and Will

Abstract

Libet’s experimental setting has been criticized at length ever since its first appearance, under both methodological and empirical aspects. In this paper, the attention will be driven on a neglected underpinning theme which has not yet been investigated, central for the economy of the argument: the time of choices. The pivotal role played by mental chronometry at the beginning of psychology and neurophysiology will be pointed out, and how the lack of a proper definition of time affected the course of the following research on the subject. The Aristotelian definition of time will be considered in order to cast some light upon Libet’s empirical findings.

Keywords

• Benjamin Libet
• Neuroscience
• Time
• Free Will
• Voluntary Action