The Free Will Arguments series is a collection of free will arguments for free will skepticism broken down into short, consumable, and discreet topics within the larger conversation.

Delivered in both audio and text formats, each segment can stand on its own for that particular issue, but in order to get a full perspective of the argument they’re best taken as a series.

• Absolute vs. Practical Free Will [AUDIO] A discussion of the difference between the two main types of free will that people debate about.
• The Two-Lever Argument Against Free Will [AUDIO] A deductive argument that says you cannot affect future outcomes unless you can influence at least one of two things.
• An Evolutionary Explanation for Our Experience of Free Will [AUDIO] An answer to the question, “If free will isn’t real, why did it evolve?”
• The Experience of Choice is Not Free Will [AUDIO] A differentiation between experience and reality, i.e. that experiences can be real while the subject of the experience is not.
• Why Free Will Makes No Sense [VIDEO] A more complete argument against free will that consolidates many of the smaller arguments listed here.

Notes

1. The final list of arguments will number in the dozens, and they’re being added over time.
2. The main driver for this approach is the fact that few people have the time or patience to sit through a 20 minute presentation, let alone a 60 minute one. Short clips are far more consumable.
3. Image from Salon.com.