It’s a question that has puzzled philosophers and theologians for
centuries and is at the heart of numerous political, social, and
personal concerns: Do we have free will? In this cogent and compelling
book, Julian Baggini explores the concept of free will from every
angle, blending philosophy, sociology, and cognitive science to find
rich new insights on the intractable questions that have plagued us.
Are we products of our culture, or free agents within it? Are our
neural pathways fixed early on by a mixture of nature and nurture, or
is the possibility of comprehensive, intentional psychological change
always open to us? And what, exactly, are we talking about when we
talk about “freedom” anyway? Freedom Regained brings the issues
raised by the possibilities—and denials—of free will to
thought-provoking life, drawing on scientific research and fascinating
encounters with everyone from artists to prisoners to dissidents. He
looks at what it means for us to be material beings in a universe of
natural laws. He asks if there is any difference between ourselves and
the brains from which we seem never able to escape. He throws down the
wildcards and plays them to the fullest: What about art? What about
addiction? What about twins? And he asks, of course, what this all
means for politics. Ultimately, Baggini challenges those who think
free will is an illusion. Moving from doubt to optimism to a hedged
acceptance of free will, he ultimately lands on a satisfying
conclusion: it is something we earn. The result is a highly engaging,
new, and more positive understanding of our sense of personal freedom,
a freedom that is definitely worth having.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780226319926
Publisert
2018
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
University of Chicago Press
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter