The Role of Conscious Thought in a World Governed by Physics and Math
TLDR: Physics and math can explain the motion of objects, like the trajectory of a thrown ball, but they don't explain what causes the ball to be thrown in the first place. Conscious thought, influenced by both your conscious mind and subconscious memories and emotions, is the starting point for every physical action.
What Really Causes the Ball to Be Thrown?
In a world where so much can be explained by physics and math, there’s one area that isn’t as clear-cut: human thought. When a ball is thrown, we can calculate its trajectory, velocity, and eventual landing point using physical principles. But what prompted the ball to be thrown in the first place?
The laws of physics describe how the ball moves, but they don't explain why you decided to throw it. Conscious thought—triggered by internal and external influences—is where the physical journey begins. What’s behind that thought? What forces drive you to make decisions?
Conscious Thought
When we talk about the movement of objects, physics tells us that a force must act on an object to set it in motion. For example, Newton’s First Law states that an object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an external force. The math that follows (calculating acceleration, trajectory, or momentum) fits into a predictable pattern. But none of these equations explain why you, the person, decided to throw the ball in the first place.
The physical world, as predictable as it may be, doesn’t account for the spark of consciousness that initiates action. Physics can describe the effect of that action, but the cause (your decision) is rooted in your brain, influenced by your memories, emotions, and environment.
The Decision to Act
Let’s break down what happens when you make a conscious decision to throw a ball:
External Stimuli: You might decide to throw a ball because of something in your environment—maybe someone asked you to, or you’re engaging in a game. Your brain receives sensory information, processes it, and evaluates whether or not to act.
Subconscious Influence: Your subconscious mind, a reservoir of memories and emotional responses, heavily influences your actions. If you have positive memories associated with throwing a ball (such as winning a game), your subconscious may encourage you to act. On the flip side, negative memories (like embarrassment from a past failure) may make you hesitant to throw the ball, shaping the outcome before you've even made a conscious decision.
Decision: In the prefrontal cortex, the conscious and subconscious minds weigh pros and cons. This is where your decision is consciously made, factoring in motivation, emotions, and context. While this feels like a fully conscious choice, your subconscious is already playing a role in influencing the degree and quality of your decision.
Action Initiation: Once the decision is made, the motor cortex in your brain sends signals to the muscles in your arm, instructing them to act. Neurotransmitters, like acetylcholine, transmit the signal to contract the necessary muscles, and you physically throw the ball.
Memories, Emotions, and Execution
Your decision-making process doesn’t just determine whether you throw the ball, but it also affects how you throw it. For instance, positive memories or emotions might result in a stronger, more confident throw. Conversely, anxiety or doubt can manifest physically, leading to a weaker or poorly aimed throw.
This demonstrates how intertwined your conscious and subconscious states are in both determining and executing your actions. It’s not just about the decision to act but about the quality and success of that action, which is heavily influenced by emotional and psychological factors.
What Are We Really in Control Of?
How much of our actions are truly under conscious control? While it often feels like we’re making decisions through conscious thought alone, much of what drives our actions is governed by the subconscious. Memories, emotions, and past experiences shape our behavior in ways we often don’t recognize.
When we calculate the physics of a thrown ball, we’re only solving part of the puzzle. The physical force comes from your arm, but that force is initiated by a decision—a decision influenced by countless internal and external factors. This raises a fundamental question: How much control do we truly have over our actions when so much of our behavior is driven by the subconscious?
Reflecting Thoughts
Are We Shaped More by the Subconscious Than We Realize? Most of our daily actions, reactions, and emotions are influenced by subconscious memories and emotions. For instance, when you have a “bad day,” it might not solely be due to present circumstances but rather the cumulative effect of past memories or unresolved emotions influencing your reactions to current stimuli. While the conscious mind is responsible for interpreting and reacting in the moment, it often relies on the emotional and psychological background provided by the subconscious.
How Much Free Will Do We Truly Have? When you react positively or negatively to specific political or social issues, is it always a conscious, rational decision, or is it shaped by deep-seated beliefs, biases, and past experiences stored in your subconscious? The subconscious mind acts as a filter, shaping how we interpret new information and influencing our decisions, sometimes in ways we aren’t even aware of.
Mindset and its Power Over Action: A person’s mindset can greatly affect how they perform any action. Optimism or positivity can create an environment for success, while negativity can hinder performance. If you walk into a situation expecting failure, your subconscious may influence your actions in subtle ways that make that failure more likely, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The Balance Between Conscious Control and Subconscious Influence: While conscious thought allows us to reason, plan, and deliberate, it is often working in tandem with the subconscious, which pulls from memories, emotions, and past experiences to guide us. Understanding this balance can help us make more informed decisions and perhaps reclaim more control over our actions.