CCIR Essay Competition Prep

Category: Neuroscience & Psychology

This essay explores the perennial philosophical and scientific debate surrounding free will. It delves into arguments from determinism, which suggest that every event is necessitated by antecedent events and conditions together with the laws of nature. We will examine neuroscientific evidence, such as the Libet experiment, which appears to show brain activity pre-empting conscious decisions. In contrast, the essay will explore compatibilist theories that argue for the coexistence of free will and determinism, and the libertarian stance that upholds the existence of genuine, undetermined choice. The essay concludes by arguing that while our choices are heavily influenced and constrained, the subjective experience and social utility of believing in free will make it a necessary concept for human morality and society.