Philosophy & Ideas

Do We Have Free Will?

Neuroscience Is Challenging Our Most Fundamental Assumptions About Human Agency

Daniel Stern

Philosopher of mind at Oxford University, specializing in the philosophy of action, free will, and the implications of neuroscience for moral philosophy.

March 21, 2026·9 min read

Do We Have Free Will?

The neuroscience of decision-making suggests that our conscious choices may be the result of unconscious brain processes that precede our awareness of them. If true, this would undermine the concept of free will that underlies our moral, legal, and social systems. But the debate is far from settled.

TOPICS

free willneurosciencephilosophy of mindconsciousnessmoral philosophy

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