Lecture on Free Will

Introduction to Free Will

• Concept of free will: the idea that individuals make choices independently, shaping their own destiny.
• Example: Choosing between an apple and a banana as an illustration of free choice.

Is Free Will a Myth?

• Argument against free will: Choices can be predetermined by brain activity and subconscious processes.
• Benjamin Libet's experiment (1980s):
  • Use of EEG to show decisions are made 300 milliseconds before conscious awareness.
• Further studies with fMRI:
  • Brain regions predict decisions 7-10 seconds before conscious awareness.
  • Indicates subconscious determines actions before conscious realization.

Influences on Decision Making

• External factors: upbringing, society, environment.
• Genetic influences: Intelligence and decision-making abilities are partly hereditary.
  • Reference to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

Free Will vs. Determinism

• Determinism: All events are predetermined by cause and effect.
• How determinism contrasts with fatalism (belief in powerlessness).

Free Will and Morality

• Ethical implications if free will is an illusion.
• Challenges to traditional moral concepts and responsibility.
• Legal implications: Use of brain scans in legal defenses to argue diminished responsibility.
  • Notable cases: Domenico Mattiello, American schoolteacher, Brian Dugan.

The Role of Brain and Behavior

• How brain tumors and injuries can alter behavior and decision-making.
• The impact of substances like alcohol and medications on free will.

Philosophical Perspectives

• Illusionism: Free will as an illusion but a necessary one for societal functioning.
• Importance of praise and punishment as behavioral influences.

Practical Implications

• Encouragement to be empathetic and humble, recognizing external influences on personal and others' life circumstances.
• The paradox of knowing free will is an illusion yet acting as though decisions are personal.

Conclusion

• Free will questioned but seen as a beneficial societal construct.
  • Encouragement to continue acting with responsibility and empathy.

Additional Resource

• Mention of Brilliant.org as a learning platform for STEM topics.
  • Offers interactive courses to enhance understanding of complex topics.