Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagFree Agents (Princeton 2023)

realistic-figure-standing-at-a-fork-in-the-road-surrounded-b-1083162362-stockpack-adobe_stock
Realistic figure standing at a fork in the road, surrounded by an incredible amount of detail, representing the concept of free will in a realistic setting
Type
post
News
Date
March 15, 2025
Categorized
Free will
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A Materialist Neuroscientist Makes a Case for Free Will, Cont’d

When Mitchell tries to construct a naturalistic model of will, he is drifting away from the common experience of will that motivated the whole discussion
News
March 15, 2025
11
Free will
Despite its limitations, I would recommend Mitchell’s book as a “gateway” drug for anyone who is stuck in a reductionist-materialist paradigm. Read More ›
living-room-interior-view-and-open-door-generated-ai-stockpa-556059362-stockpack-adobe_stock
living room interior view and open door, Generated AI
Type
post
News
Date
March 14, 2025
Categorized
Free will
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A Materialist Neuroscientist Makes a Case for Free Will

Kevin Mitchell makes a good case though his book is not equally persuasive on every point
News
March 14, 2025
9
Free will
Mitchell points out that “there is nothing in the laws of physics that rules out the possibility of agency or free will, a priori.” Read More ›
a-choice-of-two-ways-woman-at-a-crossroads-stockpack-adobe-stock
A choice of two ways. Woman at a crossroads.
Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
May 30, 2024
Categorized
Crime, Free will
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Free Will: Never Let Mere Atoms Near a Keyboard

No free will — and therefore no responsibility — may sound more “cool” than free will but we had better be careful about what we admire
Denyse O'Leary
May 30, 2024
5
Crime, Free will
If there is no free will, you can’t say “I didn’t do it” if sociologically, you have a higher probability of doing it than someone else might. Read More ›
Independent Thinking
Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 15, 2023
Categorized
Free will, Philosophy of Mind, Psychology
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The Free Will Debate Really Heated Up This Year

Many commentators are weighing in; surprisingly, perhaps, well-known materialists are disputing the claim that there is no free will
Denyse O'Leary
November 15, 2023
5
Free will, Philosophy of Mind, Psychology
Given that both Pinker and Horgan are Darwinian materialists, their coldness toward the idea that there is no free will is worth keeping an eye on. Read More ›
a-hand-drops-a-ballot-into-a-transparent-plastic-ballot-box-on-election-day-at-a-polling-station-the-will-of-the-voters-free-elections-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
a hand drops a ballot into a transparent plastic ballot box on election day at a polling station. the will of the voters. free elections. Generative AI
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post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 5, 2023
Categorized
Evolution, Free will
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Can Evolution Create Free Will? A Neurologist Says Yes

Could the impersonal natural force of evolution shape hierarchies in the human cerebral cortex so that we have the free will that it does not itself have?
Denyse O'Leary
November 5, 2023
6
Evolution, Free will
It appears that materialists have not been able to simply disprove free will, so Mitchell seems to be trying to shape an evolution theory to fit it. Read More ›