Free Will, Determinism and Neuroscience

Feltz Bernard
Language of the article : French
DOI: 10.3406/intel.2021.2007
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This contribution aims to show that most recent progress in neuroscience, particularly linked to neural plasticity, permits anthropology where human behavior is characterized by some degree of free will. In a first time, I would like to analyze philosophical stakes of learning mechanisms. I will show that downward causation contradicts reductionist ambition to totally explaining with biology human behavior. In a second time, the possible relations between language and free will will be analyzed. Language permits to respect principle of generalized causality. In a third time, integral determinism in human sciences will be studied. Finally, a conclusion dialogues with indetermination in theories of biological evolution.

animal culture antinomy causality circular/downward causation efficient/final causation chance consciousness (primary/higher order) constrained system contingence continuity/threshold determinism/determination determinism/ structure dualism/monism émergence emergentism/universal grammar émotions epigenetics mind (objective/subjective) essential impredictibility Hebb's law intelligent design jansenism language learning meaning memory methodological circle methodological presupposition natural selection neural plasticity novelty objectivity rationality (epistemic/ethic/hermeneutic/communicational) reductionism (constitutive/explanatory) selective stabilization semantics spinozist conatus statistics time temporality vitalism

Pour citer cet article :

Feltz Bernard (2021/2). Free Will, Determinism and Neuroscience. In Monier Cyril & Khamassi Mehdi (Eds), Liberty and cognition, Intellectica, 75, (pp.225-254), DOI: 10.3406/intel.2021.2007.