The Science of Free Will

Abstract

Abstract This groundbreaking book sheds new scientific light on the age-old question of free will. Humankind evolved to flourish by creating a new kind of society, which required an advanced mind capable of recognizing possibilities and making good choices. No other animal operates amid economic marketplaces, shared moral principles, legal systems, religious and political institutions, and the like. Rather than getting bogged down in philosophical debates, this book surges ahead to explain how this marvelous, newly evolved mental system works. Some actions are freer than others (everyone has experienced the difference), so how does one recognize and take advantage of this freedom? Key features involve grounding actions in time and pondering multiple possible futures—indeed understanding one’s life as a story, in which one’s actions link past, present, and future. Conscious thoughts (including logical reasoning, planning, and overriding one’s first impulse) shape behavior advantageously. Free will helps you get what you want while following society’s rules. Willpower is limited, so free will can only be used sometimes. People use ideas (laws, ideals, plans, values) to guide actions. Freedom is not for random action, nor does the mind create freedom—rather, it recognizes possibilities in the situation and adjusts its actions to take advantage. Understanding free will in this fashion reveals both the powers and the limits of the human mind.