@filtherton
Unfortunately, this topic (free-will), as it deals with humans, is one which is very difficult to test. The only conceivable way to test whether we posses free will or not would be...barbaric, to say the least (more on this further down).
As an atheist, I don't believe in determinism by way of an ultimate entity, but in light of our previous conversation about randomness and the universe, through our perspectives, speaking strictly through scientific terms, it's possible that our actions are determined by the past, though in the fundamental levels, as we discussed earlier, there is an element of randomness (our perspectives aren't sensitive to this, but lets avoid this scientific venture for now). However, consider this: writing this paragraph now, I could've chosen to use the words "monstrous", or "unethical", or "inhumane", in place of the word "barbaric" above. I pondered for a good 10 seconds which word to use, before coming to the conclusion. Which element of my past influenced my decision, being that all the possible words above have the same meaning in the context I'm suggesting? I could've chosen any of those words, or I can change it now through the Edit function if I wanted to, but what influenced me to do so? I can conceive no provable explanation. For all I know, I could've heard the word "barbaric" used in such a way that it stuck out of my mind more than the other words did, some long, long time ago. I don't know. If someone wants to call that determinism, then they have at least one leg to stand on. But still, I chose this word for no particular reason, other than its definition, by my own free choice. I can go back now and change it, and no-one would be the wiser. So why change it? Why not? Because I choose my actions, and I decide what to do. I hope that made some sense...
The only experiment I can think of which would definitively (I think) answer the question of whether free will exists or not would be to take two identical twins, separate them, isolate and raise them identically, with every possible variable constant between the two lives. After they've reached an advanced age (say 7-8), if they are presented with questions/challenges and they complete them identically, then perhaps free-will is only an illusion, and we are, as you stated, "just hyper aware automatons." However, if their answers or choices vary significantly, then it's fair to conclude that it's possible that free-will is more probable than determinism.
^ Obviously, this will never happen, as it is wholly cruel and unethical.
I hope all this made some sort of sense.
