Philosophy & Ideas

Do We Have Free Will?

What Neuroscience and Philosophy Tell Us About the Nature of Human Agency

Daniel Dennett

Philosopher and cognitive scientist at Tufts University, specializing in the philosophy of mind, free will, and evolution. He is the author of "Freedom Evolves" and "Consciousness Explained."

March 16, 2026·10 min read

Do We Have Free Will?

The question of free will — whether we are the authors of our actions or merely the products of prior causes — has been debated by philosophers for millennia. Now neuroscience is entering the debate, with experiments that seem to show that our decisions are made before we are conscious of them. What does this mean for moral responsibility?

TOPICS

free willphilosophyneurosciencedeterminismconsciousness

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