Dr. Jared Hanson-Park

Do humans have free will? As science progresses, events in the world become more predictable and less chaotic. Some people argue that humans are no different from other physical objects in that they do not have free will, while others argue that our actions are determined by our beliefs and desires, our environment, or the past, which are not up to us. These considerations and others have led to an ongoing debate in philosophy about whether it is possible for humans to make free, undetermined choices. In this module, we will discuss the major views about free will, the primary arguments for and against those views, and how this debate relates to issues such as the nature of the mind, moral responsibility, and punishment. [show less]