Caused Will?

From an interesting post by the social psychologist John Bargh, on the subject of free will:

So what, then, if one's will is not ‘free' of internal causation? It is still your will and my will and each is unique: a confluence of genetic heritage, early absorption of local cultural norms and values, and particular individual life experiences. After all, one can claim personal ownership of one's will just as much as one claims ownership of one's name, eye color, and birthday, and be as proud of one's will and its products as one is proud of the exploits of great-great-Grandma the pioneer, even though one's ‘free will' played no role in any of these.

Bargh, and many other social psychologists, believe that free will is a "positive illusion" our minds create, in support of "human striving." In reality, Bargh and others argue (relying on some interesting, though I would say hardly conclusive, empirical data), what we perceive as "free will" is actually the result of many unconscious processes that we have little or no conscious control over.

The linked post has links to some interesting discussion and alternative points of view.