Tag Archives: free will

From Neural ‘Is’ to Moral ‘Ought’

Posted on March 29, 2017 by headbirths

This talk takes its inspiration from Joshua Greene’s ‘From neural ‘is’ to moral ‘ought’: what are the moral implications of neuroscientific moral psychology?’ He says: “Many moral philosophers regard scientific research as irrelevant to their work because science deals with … Continue reading →

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Free Energy and Free Will

Posted on July 1, 2013 by headbirths

This posting is an additional part of the talk ‘Intelligence and the Brain’. Here, I tie together ideas from the talk about prediction with those concerning free will from the previous talk ‘Free Will/Free Wont’. In a dualist worldview, the … Continue reading →

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Talk: Intelligence and the Brain

Posted on March 11, 2013 by headbirths

What is ‘intelligence’? What is the brain actually doing? How is intelligence physically realised in the brain? Quite how the brain manages to achieve what it does remains elusive. It’s true that almost every day there are news stories that … Continue reading →

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Free Will / Free Won’t: Conclusion

Posted on February 26, 2012 by headbirths

This is the fifth and final part of the talk ‘Free Will / Free Won’t’. Notes in the text in the form [ABC] can be found by following the above link. It brings points together from the previous parts to … Continue reading →

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Alief, Belief and C-lief

Posted on February 16, 2012 by headbirths

This is the fourth part of the talk ‘Free Will / Free Won’t’. Notes in the text in the form [ABC] can be found by following the above link. 17. Tamar Gendler’s concept of ‘Alief’ ‘Alief’ is a word concocted … Continue reading →

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Free Won’t

Posted on January 28, 2012 by headbirths

This is the second part of the talk ‘Free Will / Free Won’t’. Notes in the text in the form [ABC] can be found by following the above link. Previously: Daniel Wegner’s ‘Conscious Will’ has been presented as a physicalist … Continue reading →

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A Physicalist Account of Free Will

Posted on January 20, 2012 by headbirths

This is the first part of the talk ‘Free Will / Free Won’t’. Notes in the text in the form [ABC] can be found by following the above link.   1. The Problem of Free Will The summary for this … Continue reading →

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Talk: Free Will / Free Wont

Posted on January 16, 2012 by headbirths

Most people will assert that they feel they have free will yet most contemporary philosophers and neuroscientists, when pressed for an opinion, will suggest it is just an illusion. Some will half-joke that we only have ‘free won’t’ instead. If … Continue reading →

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Wegner’s Illusion: An Overview

Posted on September 8, 2011 by headbirths

Daniel Wegner’s ‘Illusion of Conscious Will’ is exceedingly put-downable as any great thought-provoking book should be, which might explain why it’s taken so long to get through. Here’s an overview. In the book, each chapter has a short summary. I’ve … Continue reading →

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Wegner’s Illusion: Intention, Action, Will

Posted on July 31, 2011 by headbirths

Chapter 5, ‘Protecting the Illusion’, of Daniel Wegner’s ‘The Illusion of Conscious Will’ categorizes the relationship between intention, action and will very precisely. It’s worth distilling the 40-odd pages down to the few key points. Thought Conscious thoughts are those … Continue reading →

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