Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

that the whiteness of a piano key is across the room from where I am typing at this moment. Yet, light
bouncing from the key and influencing the chemistry of my eyes is truly how I’ve come to experience this
example of whiteness. In fact, all of our experiences happen in our head, despite their appearing to be
outside us. Salt is not salty until it touches our tongue. Sounds vibrate into our hears; smells waft into our
noises. Yet, each time, experience looks as if it happening outside of us. When I say, “I see the piano key
across the room,” I seem to believe that that is where I see it. But, basic facts of science show this is not the
case.
It is our reasoning and science that has allowed us to overcome the problems of our imperfect sense
instruments. It has yielded us better information about the world around us then our meager experiences.
Our sense of freedom is also the product of these senses. Since the contradiction arises between our reason
and our sense, we should neglect our sense, not our reason. Contrary to van Inwagen’s “opinion,” the
problem is free will and not our analysis. Considering the following examples, it is hard to disagree:
Sarah is hypnotized and told to take off her shoes when a book drops on the floor. Fifteen minutes
later a book drops, and Sarah quietly slips out of her loafers. “Sarah,” asks the hypnotist, “why did
you take off your shoes?” “Well...my feet are hot and tired,” Sarah replies. “It has been a long day.”
The act produces the idea. (Myers 127)
George has electrodes temporarily implanted in the brain region that controls his head movements.
When neurosurgeon Jose Delgado (1973) stimulates the electrodes by remote control, George
always turns his head. Unaware of the remote stimulation, he offers a reasonable explanation for his
head turning: “I’m looking for my slipper.” “I heard a noise.” “I’m restless.” “I was looking under
the bed.” (Myers 127-128)
Carol’s severe seizures were relieved by surgically separating her two brain hemispheres. Now, in
an experiment, psychologist Michael Gazzaniga (1985) flashes a picture of a nude woman to the left
half of Carol’s field of vision and thus to her nonverbal right brain hemisphere. A sheepish smile
spreads over har face, and she begins chuckling. Asked why, she invents—and apparently
believes—a plausible explanation: “Oh—that funny machine.” Frank, another split-brain patient,
has a the word “smile” flashed to his nonverbal right hemisphere. He obliges and forces a smile.
Asked why, he explains, “This experiment is very funny.” (Myers 128)
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