Free Will: An Investigation

Book excerpt: This book is based on an in-depth filmed conversation between Howard Burton and Alfred Mele, the William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University. This wide-ranging conversation. This wide-ranging conversation examines free will and the different notions of free will that exist, the connections of free will with developments in neuroscience, social psychology and public opinion polls and Alfred Mele’s key concern about how current and future insights might be directly applied to improve our world. This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, Down to Earth, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter: I. Becoming A Philosopher - From Aristotle to Irrationality II. Outlining The Problem - Defining “free will” III. Neuroscience - Benjamin Libet stirs things up IV. Social Science - Eating away at our sense of autonomy V. Next Steps - And mid-grade investigations About Ideas Roadshow Conversations: This book is part of an expanding series of 100+ Ideas Roadshow conversations, each one presenting a wealth of candid insights from a leading expert through a focused yet informal setting to give non-specialists a uniquely accessible window into frontline research and scholarship that wouldn't otherwise be encountered through standard lectures and textbooks.