Product Description

Approaching conscious will as a topic of psychological study, Wegner examines the issue from a variety of angles. He looks at illusions of the will - those cases where people feel that they are willing an act that they are not doing or, conversely, are not willing an act that they in fact are doing. He explores conscious will in hypnosis, Ouija board spelling, automatic writing, and facilitated communication, as well as in such phenomena as spirit possession, dissociative identity disorder, and trance channeling.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59086 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 419 pages

Customer Reviews

Challenging work
A fascinating empirical account of how the conscious will works. Psychological theories are rarely based on so much experimental evidence. This could very well change your views on what it means to say that "you" are in control of your mind. However, the final impact of his theory is very subtle: your mind does create an "illusion" of conscious will, so as to keep track of your feelings and reactions and keep them in order. So it does make sense, in a very real way, to talk about "exercising" will, or to "strengthen" your will. It affirms and deepens your sensation of "will", instead of dismissing it. A very subtle and provocative work.

Any volunteers?
Wegner postulates our belief in complete control of our voluntary actions is an illusion. Who, then, is in control of our thoughts and behaviour? In an ideal scientific portrayal of how our minds work all the relevant factors might be analysed in detail and reassembled to duplicate the processes leading to a particular action. That, he argues, isn't a practical solution to understanding. "Free will", debated by religions, science, philosophy and law, is too simplistic a concept in Wegner's view. There are too many forces impinging on our minds, affecting our behaviour and outlook, to endorse our commonly held view of how much we control we actually exercise. In a well written account of how these outside forces are received and acted on, Wegner presents an abundance of examples. His easygoing style makes this book a pleasurable read.

Anyone seeking simple concepts will not find this book fulfilling. There are many facets to examine in determining how our minds work. Simple answers and concepts have no place here. On the surface, his examples of outside forces may seem bizarre to the newcomer to these ideas. The famous horse, Clever Hans, who fooled many for years, may seem out of place in a study of human will. How can animal actions be meaningful in such a treatise? The example points up, however, how subtle the forces affecting our thoughts and actions can be. Human brain malfunctions also show the distinction between what we view as "normal" and "aberrant" behaviour. In examining some of these conditions, Wegner leads us through spirit mediums, Oujia Boards, "channeling", and hypnotism. It seems like a journey through a fantasy land, but each example makes a telling point in supporting his case that the idea that our actions remain within our control is illusory.

None of this is to suggest, he argues finally, that we have no influence on what we do. He merely wants to make us aware of those other forces. Some are easily understood, but easily overlooked - social forces are the chief example. "Have another piece of pie" repeated until we partake, seemingly "against our will". Not telling off the boss when she's been foolish. The examples are common and frequent, Wegner notes, but we don't view them as modifying our concept of "free will" as we should. In conclusion, Wegner urges that the idea of conscious will is a valid ideal. We should aim to achieve it, even if it's not universally attainable. While our knowledge of how conscious of ourselves we truly requires further explanation, Wegner's summary of will gives us another step along that journey.
[stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Science not philosophy
Other writers discuss the question of free will / determinism as a philosophical question. They ask what is possible on the basis of first principles. Wegener is entirely different. This is an emprical work of expermental science. Wegener goes out and examines what the experience of will is in a series of experiments. If previous writers were like Galen or Aristotle arguing from first principles about natural philosophy, Wegener is like Harvey or Galileo, cutting across all the philosophical speculation with scientific evidence. This work does not hold all the answers, but science never does. It will help you understand the experience of will in a way that other books won't.