The Myth of Free Will: Revised and expanded

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mythoffreewill-2nd.jpg Back in Episode 12 I reviewed the first edition of The Myth of Free Will: Revised & Expanded Edition (2008) by Cris Evatt. I am proud to announce that I have a short chapter in the revised edition "My Brain Made Me Do It." This essay is a reflection on the implications of the recent findings of neuroscience that indicate that a large amount of our brain's decision-making occurs outside our conscious awareness. Even so I argue that the concept of personal responsibility should not be abandoned because our frontal lobes do have the ability to overrule many reflex decisions. I also consider the implications of neuroplasticity. You can find this book in the Books and Ideas aStore within Amazon.com.
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Writer Chris Evatt share her experiences in India

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Episode 12 of Books and Ideas was a discussion of Chris Evatt's thought-provoking book The Myth of Free Will. She graciously invited me to make a contribution to the next edition, so I will let you know when that comes out. I thought you might enjoy her monthly newsletter. This month she describes her recent trip to India.

Link to Chris Evatt's Newsletter

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Does Free Will Exist? (B&I 12)

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This episode is my response to the The Myth of Free Will (2007), which was sent to me by the book's editor Cris Evatt. I felt the topic was very relevant to my recent discussions on the Brain Science Podcast, where we have been exploring the evidence that a surprising amount of decision-making occurs beyond our conscious control. Listen to Books and Ideas #12 Now I have tried to include some interesting references and links below, but I hope you will share more links (especially good blogs) at the new Brain Science Podcast Forum, which is located at http://brainscienceforum.com. I have set aside a section under "Off-Topic Discussions" for discussions about Books and Ideas. The subject of free will is quite controversial. This episode is intended to stimulate thought and discussion, rather than to convince you that I have the answers. Show Notes The difference between political and psychological free will Can a non-physical soul or spirit be controlling our brain's decisions? Naturalism (What is Naturalism? by Thomas W. Clark founder of The Center For Naturalism) What about choice and responsibility? What does neuroscience have to say about free will? Partial List of Writers Whose Work I discuss References and Further Reading Why Choose This Book?: How We Make Decisions (2006) by Read Montague (Dr. Montague was interviewed on the Brain Science Podcast #15.) The Problem of the Soul: Two Visions of Mind and How to Reconcile Them (2003) by Owen Flanagan Freedom Evolves (2003) by Daniel C. Dennett Astonishing Hypothesis: The Scientific Search for the Soul (1994) by Francis Crick Links of Interest Center For Naturalism The Garden of Forking Paths-A philosophy blog devoted to agency theory, including related issues in Philosphy of Action, Moral Psychology, Metaphysics and Ethics I will try to expand this list in the future.
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