Flickers of Freedom

Brain Science and Responsibility

Not ready for prime time, they say.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/science/telling-the-story-of-the-brains-cacophony-of-competing-voices.html?ref=science

An interview with Neil Levy

Over at NewAPPS.

Free Will in the News

Two recent free will-related pieces just appeared in the mainstream media.  The first is a NYT Opinionator piece by Gary Gutting called "What Makes Free Will Free?"  The second is a Scientific American piece by Shaun Nichols called "Is Free Will an Illusion?"  Now it's time for Flickerers to get busy writing their own editorical pieces!  We shouldn't let others have all the fun, no?

Flickerers Getting Funded

The first announcement of funding for Mele's Big Questions in Free Will grant came out today, and our very own Thomas Nadelhoffer and Eddy Nahmias (along with Kathleen Vohs and Jonathan Schooler) are among the funded, as is Joshua Knobe (along with Roy Baumeister). Congrats on behalf of the blog.

The full list of winning proposals for 'The Science of Free Will' can be found here.

J.M. Fischer, VP and future Overlord of the Pacific APA

A hearty congratulations to John Fischer for being elected to Vice President of the Pacific Division of the American Philosophical Association. After a one year term, he will ascend to the Presidential throne of the Pacific Division, where among his duties will be the delivery of a Presidential Address. 

Congratulations to John on this great honor!

 

Gardeners—I mean Flickerers—in the NYTimes on Experimental Phil and FW

Go here. 

 

 

Latest issue of Science features... experimental philosophy of free will

Shaun Nichols reports. 

NPR blog + Stuart Kauffmann on "A Responsible Free Will"

http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2011/01/31/133319117/can-we-have-a-responsible-free-will

Neuroscience, Free Will, and Responsibility

The Situationist recently posted an interesting and engaging talk Dan Dennett recently gave at HLS entitled, "Free Will, Responsibility, and the Brain."  One of his targets is the recent work on neurolaw by Joshua Greene and others.  As such, some readers of Flickers may also enjoy the following round table discussion about neurolaw, free will, and related topics on Canadian TV that includes Greene and others.  Happy viewing!

 

 

3 Quarks Daily Philosophy Blog Prize

3 Quarks Daily is running their annual philosophy blog prize.  Last year, Eddy made it to the semi-finals, just out of the money I think.  (1000 for first, 300 for second, 200 for third).  If you like any of the Flicker of Freedom posts (including your own), put it up there.  Deadline is Aug. 31!

http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2010/08/akeel-bilgrami-to-judge-2nd-annual-3qd-philosophy-prize.html