Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

TagRobert Sapolsky

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
Denyse O'Leary
Date
December 19, 2025
Categorized
Free will
Tagged
, , , ,

Free Will vs. the Totalitarian Temptation

If our thoughts and choices really are wholly determined, what follows?
Denyse O'Leary
December 19, 2025
6
Free will
Pundits and politicians alike are tempted by the idea that, if there are no higher powers or greater realities to answer to, they can force people to fulfil their visions with impunity. Read More ›
man-standing-in-front-of-various-paths-needing-to-make-a-dec-586175037-stockpack-adobestock
man standing in front of various paths, needing to make a decision to move forward in life. Generative Ai.
Type
post
News
Date
June 22, 2025
Categorized
Evolution, Free will, Panpsychism, Physics
Tagged
, ,

Today’s Free Will Debate Shows How Science Culture is Changing

The fact that this Sapolsky–Mitchell debate is still raging shows that eliminative materialism and physicalism are experiencing setbacks in our philosophy of science culture today
News
June 22, 2025
5
Evolution, Free will, Panpsychism, Physics
Interestingly, Mitchell uses evolution to establish free will. Most uses of the concept would be to deny or diminish it, as in “We evolved to be violent,” etc. Read More ›
Choosing the High Road or Low Road
Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
June 20, 2025
Categorized
Free will, Science
Tagged
, , , ,

Arguments Against Free Will Viewed as Junk Science?

“No free will” used to be taken for granted as “what science says” but incisive critiques are beginning to pop up
Denyse O'Leary
June 20, 2025
5
Free will, Science
Perhaps the fact that Sapolsky opposes free will somehow makes his viewpoint more "scientific" in the eyes of many than the viewpoint of someone who, with equally good arguments, supports it. Read More ›
a-red-eared-slider-rests-on-a-leafy-green-surface-with-anoth-843881686-stockpack-adobe_stock
A red-eared slider rests on a leafy green surface with another red-eared slider on its back.
Type
post
News
Date
March 16, 2025
Categorized
Free will, Physics
Tagged
, , , ,

An Infinite Past Universe Rules Out Free Will. But Here’s a Catch

Such a universe is not logically possible, says Daniel Witt. That’s the “turtles all the way down” problem
News
March 16, 2025
15
Free will, Physics
“Turtles all the way down” — infinite regress — doesn’t solve the problem that everything, as a whole, is ultimately floating on something beyond itself. Read More ›
box-of-chocolates-stockpack-adobe-stock
box of chocolates
Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
September 8, 2024
Categorized
Free will
Tagged
, ,

Neurology Prof Robert Sapolsky Insists There Is No Free Will

We are controlled by our genes, by our prefrontal cortexes, and we can’t choose to change anything. Or can we?
Denyse O'Leary
September 8, 2024
5
Free will
In his view, no whole human being decides not to do something wrong or harmful. Only the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which has no opinion, does so… 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
Tagged
, , , , ,

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 ›
fork-in-the-road-in-forest-at-storm-weather-at-night-concept-of-insecurity-of-future-stockpack-adobe-stock
fork in the road in forest at storm weather at night, concept of insecurity of future
Type
post
Michael Egnor
Date
February 20, 2024
Categorized
Free will
Tagged
, , , ,

My Reply to Free Will Deniers: Show Me

It is helpful to consider the question in this way—not “do we have free will?,” but rather “what does it mean to believe we don’t have free will?”
Michael Egnor
February 20, 2024
6
Free will
No humans live as if we doubt free will. Free will denial is just a way for materialists to advertise themselves, like a political yard sign. Read More ›
ai-chatbot-robot-assistant-sitting-at-desk-using-computer-as-artificial-intelligence-business-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock
AI chatbot robot assistant sitting at desk using computer as artificial intelligence. Business concept
Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 18, 2023
Categorized
Evolution, Free will
Tagged
, ,

Once a Supporter, Science Writer Airs Doubts About Free Will

ChatGPT has set John Horgan thinking about whether he is just "ChatGPT-Me" himself
Denyse O'Leary
November 18, 2023
5
Evolution, Free will
Horgan’s underlying doubts about the reality of his free will and his mind, really, seem rooted in his passionate belief in Darwinian evolution. Read More ›
Independent Thinking
Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 15, 2023
Categorized
Free will, Philosophy of Mind, Psychology
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

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
Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 5, 2023
Categorized
Evolution, Free will
Tagged
, , , , , ,

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 ›
synaps-with-neurons-in-the-background-neurotransmitters-in-synaptic-junction-information-transmission-in-the-brain-stockpack-adobe-stock
Synaps with neurons in the background, neurotransmitters in synaptic junction, information transmission in the brain
Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
October 24, 2023
Categorized
Free will, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind
Tagged
, , , ,

Neuroscience Has Never Provided Much Evidence for Materialism

In a chapter of the new book, Minding the Brain, neurosurgeon Michael Egnor points out that many great neuroscientists were non-materialists
Denyse O'Leary
October 24, 2023
6
Free will, Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind
Great neuroscientists weren’t dualists in spite of the evidence but because of it. Their research really did not support a materialist view of the mind. Read More ›