Philosophy Now Forum

Consciousness is the means by which we observe our deterministic brain and its activities.
When we like what we have achived this can cause the brain to have its behaviour reinforced; when we do not like what we have achieved that can cause the brain to modify its behaviour.
Sometimes, when the deterministic urge is too great the brain continues to behave in ways we do not like, on reflection, but is unmoved by our conscious remonstrations; like taking yet another cookie out of the jar, when your conscience knows you are too fat.
But all the while, over the course of your life, the condition of the consience is at all times determined by the brain state.
So in a very important sense the will is not "free", except from external foces, but never free from ourselves.

Do you mean will and conscience, or will and consciousness? Because conscience is that voice, whispering in your head before you do something bad, and the banshee like screaming afterwards! So it could be will and conscience, but I think you mean will and consciousness. Consciousness is the ghost in the machine; the 'I' in - I think therefore I am. You cannot use these terms interchangeably. They're not the same thing!