Few concepts are more unshakable in Western culture than free will. In The Self Beyond Itself, Heidi M. Ravven throws a wrench into this view, calling free will a myth that reflects the still-powerful influence of Christian theology on popular thinking. The book offers a riveting and accessible review of neuro-scientific research into the brain's capacity for decision-making, pointing to the profound, virtually inescapable social influences on moral choices. Ravven shows that it is possible to build a theory of ethics that doesn't rely on free will.
About the book
Few concepts are more unshakable in Western culture than free will. In The Self Beyond Itself, Heidi M. Ravven throws a wrench into this view, calling free will a myth that reflects the still-powerful influence of Christian theology on popular thinking. The book offers a riveting and accessible review of neuro-scientific research into the brain's capacity for decision-making, pointing to the profound, virtually inescapable social influences on moral choices. Ravven shows that it is possible to build a theory of ethics that doesn't rely on free will.