Upcoming Speakers

Click for a larger view of this poster

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Roy F. Baumeister of Florida State University will give a public lecture titled "Free will as the Expensive Control of Action". Wednesday, November 18 at 4:15 PM in Pettengill G52 (Keck Classroom) Open to the public and the entire Bates community The problem of free will has been the focus of intellectual debate for centuries. Although psychology experiments seem unlikely to prove or disprove the reality of free will, they can illuminate the action control processes that are what people mean when they talk about free will. This work shows that self-control, rational intelligent choice, and initiative all use a common psychological resource and all fit common conceptions of free will. Moreover, belief in free will serves society and promotes certain forms of responsible behavior. It is possible to develop a scientifically sophisticated theory of free will as an evolved adaptation for human social and cultural life.

All Events