Free Will
Timothy O'Connor, Christopher Franklin · 2022 · Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Summary
Standard scholarly survey of the metaphysics of free will, covering libertarianism, compatibilism, and hard determinism.
Why it matters here
Establishes the philosophical landscape any modern empirical claim about free will is sitting inside.
Linked claims
Free will, properly understood, is compatible with determinism. The dominant view among philosophers in PhilPapers surveys.
Classical physics is deterministic; quantum mechanics complicates the picture; many-worlds and Bohmian readings restore determinism.
The strong claim that decisions are not fully determined by prior physical causes. Philosophically defended; no demonstrated mechanism.
Related evidence hubs
Physics-adjacent worldviews — block universe, many-worlds, simulation, free will.
Mind–brain relation, qualia, intentionality.
Determinism, free will, destiny.
Block universe, presentism, eternalism, emergent time.