Are the conclusions of the scientific experiments investigating free will justified? The analysis of the criticism concerning Libet’s and Haynes’ experiments Cover Image

Czy wnioski z eksperymentów naukowych badających wolną wolę są uzasadnione? Przegląd i analiza krytyki eksperymentów Benjamina Libeta i Johna-Dylana Haynesa
Are the conclusions of the scientific experiments investigating free will justified? The analysis of the criticism concerning Libet’s and Haynes’ experiments

Author(s): Michał Marzec-Remiszewski
Subject(s): History of Philosophy, Philosophical Traditions, Social Philosophy, Special Branches of Philosophy
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
Keywords: free will; Libet’s experiment; Haynes’ experiment; determinism

Summary/Abstract: Scientific experiments which try to examine free will are faced with various critical arguments — both philosophical and methodological. In this article I will present the most important and the most interesting critical arguments attacking two the most influential experiments: Benjamin Libet experiment and John‐Dylan Haynes experiment. In the first part of the article I will consider a particular criticism of Libet paradigm, which loses its importance in context of Haynes paradigm. Next I will present critical arguments which attack both Haynes and Libet experiments (and probably all other psychophysiological experiments facing free will problem). Because of this analysis I will consider informative value of presented experiments in context of existence of free will.

  • Issue Year: VI/2016
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 475-492
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish