#842 Kevin Mitchell - Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will
Dr. Kevin Mitchell is Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin. He is interested in the development of connectivity in the brain, specifically in how this process is controlled by genes and how mutations in such genes affect the connectivity of neuronal circuits, influence behavior and perception and contribute to disease. His latest book is Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will.
In this episode, we focus on Free Agents. We start by discussing how scientists approach free will, and if we should define free will. We go through some of the major steps in the evolution of free will, and talk about the origins of life on Earth; informational causation; the purpose of life; meaning and value; the evolution of decision making; agency; the evolution of nervous systems; the neocortex; and self-awareness. We talk about how we simulate different courses of action, and how we should understand decision making as a process. We discuss indeterminacy in Physics and Neuroscience. We talk about the Libet experiments, and studies of brain legions. We discuss personality traits and other psychological predispositions. We talk about constraints and top-down causation. Finally, we discuss the link between free will and moral responsibility.
Time Links:
Intro
How scientists approach free will
Defining free will
The origins of life on Earth
Informational causation
Does life have purpose?
The evolution of decision making
Agency
The evolution of nervous systems
The neocortex, and the decoupling of perception from action
Self-awareness
Simulating possible courses of action
Understanding decision making as a process
Indeterminacy in Physics and Neuroscience
Brain legions
Personality traits and other psychological predispositions
Constraints and top-down causation
Free will and moral responsibility
Follow Dr. Mitchell’s work!
Follow Dr. Mitchell’s work:
Our first interview: https://youtu.be/VBc9Ava4Dgg
Our second interview: https://youtu.be/6Ugbm6HJko4
Faculty page: http://bit.ly/32qe0rS
Personal website: http://bit.ly/33Bpuc7
Free Agents: https://bit.ly/3GX0TEZ
Wiring the Brain (blog): http://bit.ly/2MKhzCA
ResearchGate profile: http://bit.ly/2LVNCBJ
Twitter handle: @WiringTheBrain