Big Ideas

Do we make conscious decisions? Or are all of our actions predetermined? And if we don't have free will, are we responsible for what we do? Modern neurotechnology is now allowing scientists to study brain activity neuron by neuron to try to determine how and when our brains decide to act. In this program, experts probe the latest research and explore the question of just how much agency we have in the world, and how the answer impacts our ethics, our behavior, and our society. This program is part of the Big Ideas Series, made possible with support from the John Templeton Foundation.Learn More

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TOPICS: Art & Science, Biology & Origins of Life, Earth & Environment, Mind & Brain, Physics & Math, Science in Society, Science Unplugged, Space & The Cosmos, Technology & Engineering, Your Daily Equation, Youth & Education

TAGS: 2016, Alfred Mele, Azim Shariff, christof koch, do we have free will, Free Will (Quotation Subject), Guilt, Metaphysics, Mind Over Masters, New York City, NYC, Philosophy (Field Of Study), physics, praise, predetermined, responsibility, sin, string theory, Tamar Kushnir, the free will debate, The Libet Experiment, The Question of Free Will, what is free will, 2016, Alfred Mele, Azim Shariff, christof koch, do we have free will, Free Will (Quotation Subject), Guilt, Metaphysics, Mind Over Masters, New York City, NYC, Philosophy (Field Of Study), physics, praise, predetermined, responsibility, sin, string theory, Tamar Kushnir, the free will debate, The Libet Experiment, The Question of Free Will, what is free will

PLAYLISTS: Big Ideas

Video Duration: 01:23:39

Original Program Date: Saturday, May 30, 2015

Moderator: Emily Senay

Participants: Christof Koch, Tamar Kushnir, Alfred Mele, Azim Shariff

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