Is free will an illusion? Krista Tippett hosts a discussion about the mind and morality

March 16, 2015
David Streever

On Being, the Peabody-award winning radio show about the human condition, hosts a conversation between Michael McCullough, professor of psychology, and Arthur Zajonc, physicist, about morality and the ways our practices and thoughts may shape our morality.

Tippett and her guests discuss morality, the mind, and quantum mechanics as they gently debate predetermination, mechanistic morality, and the nature of free will.

The entire episode is archived on their site (audio | transcript) along with video of the discussion.

BBC4’s “A History of Ideas” has a short video on free will and the Libet experiment, which suggests that we move and act before our brain has generated the idea.

Did you enjoy the conversation? What would you add?

Like (0)

Dislike (0)

Café Comments?

Our comment policy requires that you use your real first and last names and provide an email address (your email will not be published). Comments that use non-PG rated language, include personal attacks, that are not provable as fact or that we deem in any way to be counter to our mission of fostering respectful dialogue will not be posted.

newest oldest

Guest

Tobias Haller

I've never bought into the Libet experiment because it seems to confuse will with consciousness and awareness and reaction. These are really different though related things. I'm perfectly happy to believe that the freedom of the will begins in a subconscious reality that is shaped by more conscious levels of reaction.

One could, of course, also posit a purely spiritual reality that guides the whole organic mechanism, the results of which only show up in the nerves after the decision has been taken on the spiritual plane. No experiment can verify this, or disprove it, so it remains a matter of faith.

Like (0)

Dislike (0)

wpDiscuz

Support the Café

Past Posts

The Episcopal Café seeks to be an independent voice, reporting and reflecting on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican tradition. The Café is not a platform of advocacy, but it does aim to tell the story of the church from the perspective of Progressive Christianity. Our collective sympathy, as the Café, lies with the project of widening the circle of inclusion within the church and empowering all the baptized for the role to which they have been called as followers of Christ.

The opinions expressed at the Café are those of individual contributors, and, unless otherwise noted, should not be interpreted as official statements of a parish, diocese or other organization. The art and articles that appear here remain the property of their creators.