Alfred Mele - Free Will: Where's the Problem?

Why is free will such a complex puzzle, enough to drive philosophers slightly mad? Free will probes consciousness, examines what it means to pick, choose, select, decide. But some say that 'free will' is just a trick of the brain. How to discern the key issues of free will, scientifically and philosophically?

Alfred Remen Mele is an American philosopher and the William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University. He is also the Director of the Philosophy and Science of Self-Control Project and past director of the Big Questions in Free Will Project (2010-2013). Mele is the author of ten books and over 200 articles.


Closer to Truth presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[chrisc]

"They muddy the waters to make it seem deep." Freddy Nietzsche

[alancham]

One thing is clear is that you can create a model for a grand scale where our choices are predecided. But that’s just a model to grasp at a scale that is unknowable. So have fun, I’m going to exercise my free will to move on.

[MasterSpade]

“Yes I have free will; I have no choice but to have it.” – Christopher Hitchens

[kallianpublico]

Is there a scientific measurement called will? Memory? Consciousness? Self? If not what are you talking about? Beauty, truth, morality?
Where is the will? In which part of the body? If we could find its physical location wouldn't it be easier to guess at its limitations, remembering of course that brain isn't mind?
Tell us what and where the will is before discussing its freedom.

[leonoradompor]

True freedom is only real, freewill is only real if you are doing good, doing bad is not freewill, not freedom its slavery.

[J]

Next up, deja vu (this is a repeat:-)

[markemerson]

ive tried not to blink for as along as Alfred Mele - nope can't do it... but great talk

[jamesruscheinski]

Recommend premium free will at pump when go to fill up.

[jarydf]

Is there "fuzzy" determinism?

Meaning the universe is deterministic and I do have free will to choose things but the things I choose does not alter the outcomes that actually matter?

A sort of bounded free will?

I can choose things in my life but it will never change the laws of physics or avoid the heat death of the universe. We just took a slightly different path to get to the same result?

[FisicoNuclearCuantico]

There is no problem with free will. Search "Non-locality theorem".
God is sovereign, he exists outside space and time.

[sockfreak]

We’re not robots cause we don’t have an intelligent creator, so “free will” is the same as having “random Will”. What made the laws of physics the way it is? That is the question that would bring us closer to see if there can be an entity that can have uncaused causes or “free will.”

[rotorblade]

What does it mean to be non physical? Physical can mean a system which works on a set of rules. So non physical would mean it’s a system or not. If it is a system then it has no rules so it’s just something undefinable that we think may exist somehow. This is very vague, like Penrose says (about vague thinks), “I don’t know what to do with it”

[jasonzheng]

so free will requires reasons-responsiveness, openess, and soul.

[playpaltalk]

Reasoning and money with logic are very influencial in our free will.

[jamesruscheinski]

Our reality appears deterministic in physical sense, while a premium free will is determining physical reality.

[FrancisBourre]

Wow thanks, learned a lot from this one, it was very pedagogical.

[-by-_Publishing_LLC]

(0.10) *Gas Station Analogy:* Apparently the _higher grade_ gasoline one moves in defining free will, the more ambiguous the definition becomes. The ability to "take no action" must always be factored in.

[heavymeddle]

The more I think about free will, which feels like such a obvious thing... The more I'm going crazy 🤪

[sirstrongst]

Free will is an illusion. You have no choice in whether to be here or not. Whether to be rich or poor, or male or female. Those are the most important choices of any free will.

[jamesruscheinski]

In the definition of determinism, the infinite intelligence is beyond or outside determinism in making observation of and knowing reality past, present and future?