Christian Faith, Free Will and Neuroscience

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    Abstract

    In this contribution I explain what the libertarian conception of free will is, and why it is of moral and religious importance. Consequently, I defend this conception of free will against secular and religious charges. After that, I present and evaluate neuroscientific experi-ments on free will, especially Benjamin Libet’s experiments. I argue that Libet’s experiments do not decide the debate between compati-bilist and incompatibilist conceptions of free will; that is a conceptual issue and not an empirical one. Nor do Libet’s experiments count against the libertarian conception of free will that I defend, because they deal with arbitrary actions rather than actions that we do for a reason. I conclude by summing up the case for a libertarian concep-tion of free will, giving attention especially to a religious reason for preferring this conception.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationEmbodied Religion
    EditorsP.H.A.I. Jonkers, M. Sarot
    Place of PublicationUtrecht
    PublisherIgitur
    Pages105-120
    Publication statusPublished - 2013

    Publication series

    NameArs Disputandi Supplement Series
    Number6

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