Free Will and Consciousness - 9780195389760

"The psychological research discussed in these essays on the relation of free will and consciousness is fascinating and cutting-edge, and the philosophical discussions of it break new ground. The result is rewarding reading for anyone interested in these two central philosophical problem."-Robert Kane, University Distinguished Teaching Professor of Philosophy, The University of Texas at Austin

"This volume of essays vividly displays the increased depth and fruitfulness of recent interaction among psychologists, neuroscientists, and philosophers on the nature of conscious will. The conversational character is enhanced by postscripts recording the author's replies to a range of queries raised by other contributors. This volume is an excellent entry point into an exciting, rapidly intensifying interdisciplinary research program."-Tim O'Connor, Professor and Chair, Department of Philosophy, Indiana University

"Against the backdrop of widespread claims 'that neuroscience and psychology are showing that free will is an illusion and consciousness is epiphenomenal, the contributors to this volume offer important alternative perspectives. They demonstrate that careful philosophical analysis of what free will and consciousness are can open the door to fruitful psychological research on what free will and consciousness do, and how they do it. It is way too early in the game to declare that free will and consciousness are (or are not) mere causal byproducts. For anyone who wants to get in on the game, this book is a must read."-Eddy Nahmias, Associate Professor, Philosophy Department and the Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University

This volume is aimed at readers who wish to move beyond debates about the existence of free will and the efficacy of consciousness and closer to appreciating how free will and consciousness might operate. It draws from philosophy and psychology, the two fields that have grappled most fundamentally with these issues: In this wide-ranging volume, the contributors explore such issues as how free will is connected to rational choice, planning, and self-control; roles for consciousness in decision making; the nature and power of conscious deciding; connections among free will, consciousness, and quantum mechanics; why free will and consciousness might have evolved; how consciousness develops in individuals; the experience of free will; effects on behavior of the belief that free will is an illusion; and connections between free will and moral responsibility in lay thinking. Collectively, these state-of-the-art chapters by accomplished psychologists and philosophers provide a glimpse into the future of research on free will and consciousness.

Roy F. "Free will" Baumeister, a social, psychologist, is a reformed zombie with free will but no consciousness. He has over 400 publications and loves french fries.

Alfred R. "Zombie Magnet" Mele, a philosopher, is hyper-conscious and absolutely free. He would like to try out being a zombie for a day, as long as Vohs and Baumeister make sure he doesn't get into any trouble. People say he has been too productive for his own good.

Kathleen D. "Determinism" Vohs, a professor, of marketing, has surfed the multiverse with consciousness but no free will. She won the SAGE Young Scholar Award from Society of Personality and Social Psychology and the International Society for Self and Identity Early Career Award, for which she takes no credit because she has no free will. She is lactose intolerant.