Neurophilosophy of Free Will · From Libertarian Illusions to a Concept of Natural Autonomy (Bradford Books)

Neuroscientists routinely investigate such classical philosophical topics as

consciousness, thought, language, meaning, aesthetics, and death. According to Henrik Walter,

philosophers should in turn embrace the wealth of research findings and ideas provided by

neuroscience. In this book Walter applies the methodology of neurophilosophy to one of philosophy's

central challenges, the notion of free will. Neurophilosophical conclusions are based on, and

consistent with, scientific knowledge about the brain and its

functioning.

Walter's answer to whether there is free will is, It depends. The

basic questions concerning free will are (1) whether we are able to choose other than we actually

do, (2) whether our choices are made intelligibly, and (3) whether we are really the originators of

our choices. According to Walter, freedom of will is an illusion if we mean by it that under

identical conditions we would be able to do or decide otherwise, while simultaneously acting only

for reasons and being the true originators of our actions. In place of this scientifically untenable

strong version of free will, Walter offers what he calls natural autonomy -- self-determination

unaided by supernatural powers that could exist even in an entirely determined universe. Although

natural autonomy can support neither our traditional concept of guilt nor certain cherished

illusions about ourselves, it does not imply the abandonment of all concepts of responsibility. For

we are not mere marionettes, with no influence over our thoughts or actions.