As we continue explore free will, today Hank considers a middle ground between hard determinism and libertarian free will: compatibilism. This view seeks to find ways that our internally motivated actions can be understood as free in a...

Do we really have free will? Today Hank explores possible answers to that question, explaining theories like libertarian free will and it’s counterpoint, hard determinism.

Quantum physics simplified. Are Consciousness and Free Will linked to quantum mechanics? The double slit experiment explained. What is the difference between observation and measurement? Since Quantum Mechanics...

Quantum consciousness. Is quantum mechanics responsible for consciousness and free will? There is a reductionist claim that the universe is a sophisticated kind of clock ruled by the laws of physics. Are we...

The simplest definition of free will is the ability to have made a different choice. Our more precise definition: it is the ability of conscious beings to make choices that are not solely determined by prior physical...

When the nucleus was discovered by Rutherford, it became clear the classical world was not reality, because according to classical electromagnetism, the electron should collapse to the proton. This problem was...

How low in complexity can you go and still have free will. Does a bacteria have free will? Do single cells have it? What do we know about agency in living systems? I collaborated with physicist and author Philip...

Pupil outcome: I can explain how the prologue sets up the theme of fate in ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Key learning points: - In Elizabethan England, most people believed that their lives were controlled by fate. - Romeo and Juliet’s fate is...

Pupil outcome: I can explain Christian beliefs about sin and how these beliefs influence Christians today. Key learning points: - Sin refers to an action against God’s laws or wishes. - Sin occurs when humans misuse their free will and...

Pupil outcome: I can explain what a belief in predestination is and different perspectives on how this can relate to the idea of human freedom in Islam. Key learning points: - Muslims beileve that Allah is all powerful and all knowing -...

In 1980, Benjamin Libet wanted to find out whether our mind prepared for a movement before we were aware of it. He set up an experiment monitoring brain activity, and found that our brain becomes active 500 milliseconds before we become...

This video from a series on Shakespeare's "Macbeth" focuses on Banquo's encounter with the witches, where he challenges them to reveal his own future after they prophesy Macbeth's rise to power. This moment underscores themes of fate and...

This video examines a pivotal scene in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" where Caesar decides to ignore ominous warnings and attend the Senate, influenced by the interpretations and persuasions of others around him. The discussion highlights...

Taking the Oath of Allegiance is an important part of the U.S. Citizenship Test. But what new duties and responsibilities do people swear to uphold?

In this video, the concept of the magician's choice, also known as equivocation, is revealed. Magicians use this technique to give the illusion of free will to participants, while actually guiding them towards a predetermined outcome.

How 'free' are you? Professor Patrick Haggard explains the differences between determinism and free will and we look at behavioural, psychic and neurological determinism. We then reconstruct Libet's seminal experiment showing that brain...