Are We Free? Psychology and Free Will

Are We Free? Psychology and Free Will PDF Author: John Baer
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0195189639
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 367

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Book Description
Do people have free will, or this universal belief an illusion? If free will is more than an illusion, what kind of free will do people have? How can free will influence behavior? Can free will be studied, verified, and understood scientifically? How and why might a sense of free will have evolved? These are a few of the questions this book attempts to answer.People generally act as though they believe in their own free will: they don't feel like automatons, and they don't treat one another as they might treat robots. While acknowledging many constraints and influences on behavior, people nonetheless act as if they (and their neighbors) are largely in control of many if not most of the decisions they make. Belief in free will also underpins the sense that people are responsible for their actions. Psychological explanations of behavior rarely mention free will as a factor, however. Can psychological science find room for free will? How do leading psychologists conceptualize free will, and what role do they believe free will plays in shaping behavior?In recent years a number of psychologists have tried to solve one or more of the puzzles surrounding free will. This book looks both at recent experimental and theoretical work directly related to free will and at ways leading psychologists from all branches of psychology deal with the philosophical problems long associated with the question of free will, such as the relationship between determinism and free will and the importance of consciousness in free will. It also includes commentaries by leading philosophers on what psychologists can contribute to long-running philosophical struggles with this most distinctly human belief. These essays should be of interest not only to social scientists, but to intelligent and thoughtful readers everywhere.

Free Will

Free Will PDF Author: Sam Harris
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1451683405
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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Book Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of The End of Faith, a thought-provoking, "brilliant and witty" (Oliver Sacks) look at the notion of free will—and the implications that it is an illusion. A belief in free will touches nearly everything that human beings value. It is difficult to think about law, politics, religion, public policy, intimate relationships, morality—as well as feelings of remorse or personal achievement—without first imagining that every person is the true source of his or her thoughts and actions. And yet the facts tell us that free will is an illusion. In this enlightening book, Sam Harris argues that this truth about the human mind does not undermine morality or diminish the importance of social and political freedom, but it can and should change the way we think about some of the most important questions in life.

Are We Free? Psychology and Free Will

Are We Free? Psychology and Free Will PDF Author: John Baer
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190293470
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 368

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Book Description
Do people have free will, or this universal belief an illusion? If free will is more than an illusion, what kind of free will do people have? How can free will influence behavior? Can free will be studied, verified, and understood scientifically? How and why might a sense of free will have evolved? These are a few of the questions this book attempts to answer. People generally act as though they believe in their own free will: they don't feel like automatons, and they don't treat one another as they might treat robots. While acknowledging many constraints and influences on behavior, people nonetheless act as if they (and their neighbors) are largely in control of many if not most of the decisions they make. Belief in free will also underpins the sense that people are responsible for their actions. Psychological explanations of behavior rarely mention free will as a factor, however. Can psychological science find room for free will? How do leading psychologists conceptualize free will, and what role do they believe free will plays in shaping behavior? In recent years a number of psychologists have tried to solve one or more of the puzzles surrounding free will. This book looks both at recent experimental and theoretical work directly related to free will and at ways leading psychologists from all branches of psychology deal with the philosophical problems long associated with the question of free will, such as the relationship between determinism and free will and the importance of consciousness in free will. It also includes commentaries by leading philosophers on what psychologists can contribute to long-running philosophical struggles with this most distinctly human belief. These essays should be of interest not only to social scientists, but to intelligent and thoughtful readers everywhere.

Free Will and Human Responsibility

Free Will and Human Responsibility PDF Author: Herman Harrell Horne
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Free will and determinism
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description


The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods

The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic journals
Languages : en
Pages : 848

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Book Description


The Laws of Thought

The Laws of Thought PDF Author: William Poland
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Logic
Languages : en
Pages : 120

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Book Description
Examines aspects of formal logic.

Psychology

Psychology PDF Author: Michael Maher
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 656

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Book Description


The Human Mind

The Human Mind PDF Author: James Sully
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 420

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Book Description


Psychology: Empirical and Rational

Psychology: Empirical and Rational PDF Author: Michael Maher
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 672

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Book Description


Cognition

Cognition PDF Author: Cornelia I. Bargmann
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781621821267
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 336

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Book Description
The Proceedings of the 79th Symposium capture many of the tremendous discoveries currently being made by neuroscientists and psychologists working on cognitive processes at scales varying from the molecular to circuit to whole-brain and theoretical studies. Major advances in understanding cognitive function, including learning, memory, language, and decision-making, are being made through the application of powerful new techniques and approaches. The scientific results discussed in this volume shed light on many areas of normal brain function but also offer novel insights into the treatment of psychiatric, neurological, and neurodegenerative diseases. This volume includes state-of-the-art neurobiological research at genetic, molecular, cellular, circuit, and whole brain resolution. Additional chapters address computational neuroscience, behavioral and psychophysical studies, and evolutionary/comparative neuroscience. The Conversations included in this volume are based on interviews conducted during the Symposium and offer a broader anecdotal perspective on this fascinating subject by many of the world's leading cognitive neuroscientists. The Symposium Proceedings provides an integrative overview of the current state of the field as well as a glimpse into the emerging connections between molecular/cellular /circuit mechanisms and higher brain function by leading authorities in the field.