Final answer:
Violations of transitivity in the brain may occur due to deterministic neurobiological processes that do not correspond linearly with conscious intention. The active nature of perception and cognition, alongside studies like Libet's, challenge traditional views of free will by suggesting that the brain orchestrates actions prior to conscious awareness. These complexities form the crux of the mind-brain problem, questioning the interaction between mental states and physical brain activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
An explanation for how the brain may lead to violations of transitivity involves the understanding of our mental processes and the underlying neurobiological activities. As actions unfold over time, say from T1 to T3, it is proposed that either the state of the brain at T1 deterministically prompts the state at T2 and subsequently to T3 (A), or there are neurobiological realities that bridge these transitions non-deterministically (B). In the latter case, this could account for a violation of transitivity, where the mental experience doesn't correspond linearly with the neurological states.
In complex processes like visual perception, the brain does not function as a passive recipient of images, like a camera, but actively interprets and often misconstrues information, as evident in optical illusions. Furthermore, based on experiments such as those by Benjamin Libet, it is suggested that the brain determines many actions that we perceive as voluntary. This view challenges traditional conceptions of free will, suggesting that neurobiological processes precede conscious intent, potentially giving rise to violations of the expected transitivity between intention and action.
The mind-brain problem highlights difficulties in understanding how non-physical mental states interact with physical brain processes. This inquiry is deepened by global skeptical arguments, such as the brain in a vat scenario, questioning the reliability of our perceptions and the structure of our knowledge. The integration of new information through synaptic plasticity, as demonstrated in experiments, further emphasizes the active role of brain mechanisms in shaping behavior.