Free Will

Det er et af historiens allerstørste filosofiske hjernevridere: Har mennesket fri vilje? I "Free Will" forsøger fysiologen Sam Harris at besvare dette omdebatterede spørgsmål med hjernevidenskab. Spørgsmålet om den fri vilje er nemlig ikke længere blot et emne fra filosofiundervisningen. Troen på den fri vilje tilslutter sig den religiøse forestilling om 'synd' og samfundets forestilling om gengældende retfærdighed. I "Free Will" diskuterer Will Harris de videnskabelige fund, der har udfordret vores forestilling om den fri vilje, og debatterer hvorvidt - givet hvad hjernevidenskaben har bevist - mennesket reelt besidder fri vilje.

Det er et af historiens allerstørste filosofiske hjernevridere: Har mennesket fri vilje? I "Free Will" forsøger fysiologen Sam Harris at besvare dette omdebatterede spørgsmål med hjernevidenskab. Spørgsmålet om den fri vilje er nemlig ikke længere blot et emne fra filosofiundervisningen. Troen på den fri vilje tilslutter sig den religiøse forestilling om 'synd' og samfundets forestilling om gengældende retfærdighed. I "Free Will" diskuterer Will Harris de videnskabelige fund, der har udfordret vores forestilling om den fri vilje, og debatterer hvorvidt - givet hvad hjernevidenskaben har bevist - mennesket reelt besidder fri vilje.

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 willand 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, moralityas well as feelings of remorse or personal achievementwithout 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.

Every day we seem to make and act upon all kinds of free choices - some of them trivial, and some so consequential that they may change the course of our life, or even the course of history. But are these choices really free? Or are we compelled to act the way we do by factors beyond our control? Is the feeling that we could have made different decisions just an illusion? And if our choices are not free, why should we be held morally responsible for our actions? This Very Short Introduction, written by a leading authority on the subject, looks at a range of issues surrounding this fundamental philosophical question, exploring it from the ideas of the Greek and medieval philosophers through to the thoughts of present-day thinkers. It provides a interesting and incisive introduction to this perennially fascinating subject. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Every day we seem to make and act upon all kinds of free choices - some of them trivial, and some so consequential that they may change the course of our life, or even the course of history. But are these choices really free? Or are we compelled to act the way we do by factors beyond our control? Is the feeling that we could have made different decisions just an illusion? And if our choices are not free, why should we be held morally responsible for our actions? This Very Short Introduction, written by a leading authority on the subject, looks at a range of issues surrounding this fundamental philosophical question, exploring it from the ideas of the Greek and medieval philosophers through to the thoughts of present-day thinkers. It provides a interesting and incisive introduction to this perennially fascinating subject. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

"Free Will" gives a voice to the wounded left behind when authors have family life in their sights and take aim in the most devastating way. What happens to truth, and indeed what is the truth, in these circumstances? "Free Will" paints a compelling portrait of the family s reaction to Vigdis Hjorths "Will and Testament" and balances facts, feelings and ethics to draw the reader into the nuclear fallout.

"Free Will" gives a voice to the wounded left behind when authors have family life in their sights and take aim in the most devastating way. What happens to truth, and indeed what is the truth, in these circumstances? "Free Will" paints a compelling portrait of the family s reaction to Vigdis Hjorths "Will and Testament" and balances facts, feelings and ethics to draw the reader into the nuclear fallout.