The Free Will Show - podcast cover

The Free Will Show

Taylor Cyr and Matt Flummerthefreewillshow.com
Do any of us really have free will? What does it mean to have free will, anyway? Is free will compatible with determinism? Hasn’t science disproved free will? How could we have free will if God exists and foreknows everything that we will ever do? The Free Will Show provides a beginner-friendly introduction to the topic of free will while at the same time exposing listeners to cutting-edge developments on the topic. Hosted by a couple of philosophers, Taylor Cyr and Matt Flummer, The Free Will Show features interviews with guests on a diverse array of issues relating to free will, including issues in science and theology. thefreewillshow.com
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Episodes

Episode 71: The Principle of Alternative Possibilities with Justin Capes

In this episode, we talk with Justin Capes about the principle of alternative possibilities and his version of the flicker of freedom response to Frankfurt cases. Justin's website: https://www.justincapes.com/ Justin's book, Moral Responsibility and the Flicker of Freedom : https://academic.oup.com/book/46725 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/...

Jan 15, 202441 minSeason 8Ep. 1

Episode 70: Forgiveness and the Law with Simone Gubler

In this episode, we talk with Simone Gubler about forgiveness, its value, and some potential problems with institutional attempts to make forgiveness happen. Simone's website: https://simonegubler.com/ Simone's paper, "Recent Work in Forgiveness": https://academic.oup.com/analysis/article-abstract/82/4/738/6908773?redirectedFrom=fulltext Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-1...

Dec 18, 202327 minSeason 7Ep. 10

Episode 69: Addiction and the Law with Stephen Morse

In this episode, we talk with Stephen Morse about the nature of addiction and about the moral and criminal responsibility of people who suffer from addiction. Stephen's website: https://www.law.upenn.edu/faculty/smorse/ Stephen's book (edited with Adina Roskies), A Primer on Criminal Law and Neuroscience : https://global.oup.com/academic/product/a-primer-on-criminal-law-and-neuroscience-9780199859177?q=primer%20on%20law%20and%20neuroscience%20morse%20roskies&lang=en&cc=us Twitter: https:...

Dec 04, 202338 minSeason 7Ep. 9

Episode 68: Psychopathy and the Law with David Shoemaker

In this episode, we talk with David Shoemaker about his theory of different kinds of moral responsibility and its implications for psychopathy and the law. David's website: https://sites.google.com/site/dshoemakr/home David's book, Responsibility from the Margins : https://global.oup.com/academic/product/responsibility-from-the-margins-9780198715672?lang=en&cc=us Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.fac...

Nov 20, 202342 minSeason 7Ep. 8

Episode 67: Children and the Law with Gideon Yaffe

In this episode, we talk with Gideon Yaffe about whether and to what extent children should be held less culpable for breaking the law. Gideon's website: https://law.yale.edu/gideon-yaffe Gideon's book, The Age of Culpability: Children and the Age of Criminal Responsibility : https://academic.oup.com/book/8349?login=false Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/...

Nov 06, 202339 minSeason 7Ep. 7

Episode 66: Overpunishment with Saul Smilansky

In this episode, we talk with Saul Smilansky about overpunishment, focusing on the question of whether overpunishing a guilty person is morally worse than punishing an innocent person. We also briefly discuss Saul's work on free will and illusion. Saul's website: https://www.saulsmilansky.com/ Saul's book, Free Will and Illusion : https://global.oup.com/academic/product/free-will-and-illusion-9780199252596?q=saul%20smilanski%20free%20will&lang=en&cc=us Saul's paper, "Overpunishment and t...

Oct 23, 202343 minSeason 7Ep. 6

Episode 65: Rehabilitation with Katrina Sifferd

In this episode, we talk with Katrina Sifferd about the rehabilitation of criminal offenders and the effects that environments can have on criminal behavior and rehabilitation. Katrina's website: https://pleasandexcuses.net/ Katrina's paper, "Structural Injustice and Fair Opportunity": https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11572-023-09697-1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Wil...

Oct 09, 202336 minSeason 7Ep. 5

Episode 64: Moral Authority and Punishment with Victor Tadros

In this episode, we talk with Victor Tadros about moral authority (or standing) and punishment. In particular, we ask about what it would mean for the state to be complicit in the behavior of criminal offenders and how that complicity might affect its standing to punish. Victor's website: https://vtadros367761169.wordpress.com/ Victor's book, Criminal Responsibility : https://global.oup.com/academic/product/criminal-responsibility-9780199225828 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instag...

Sep 25, 202330 minSeason 7Ep. 4

Episode 63: Mens Rea with Craig Agule

In this episode, we talk with Craig Agule about some of the philosophical issues related to mens rea requirements in the law and also about the connection between mens rea and free will. Craig's website: https://craigagule.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/...

Sep 18, 202325 minSeason 7Ep. 3

Episode 62: Theories of Punishment with Erin Kelly

In this episode, we talk with Erin Kelly about the main theories of justification for punishment, as well as some challenges for those theories. We also ask her about her work on moving from retributive to restorative justice. Erin's website: https://erinikelly.com Erin's book, The Limits of Blame: Rethinking Punishment and Responsibility : https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674980778 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/...

Sep 07, 202330 minSeason 7Ep. 2

Episode 61: Introduction to Free Will and the Law with Kyle Fritz

This episode starts a new season on free will and the law. In a wide-ranging discussion, Kyle Fritz gives some background for various key issues at the intersection of free will and the law. Kyle's website: https://kylegfritz.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/...

Aug 16, 202351 minSeason 7Ep. 1

Episode 60: Compatibilism and Reduction with Robert Wallace

In this episode, we talk with Robert Wallace about a dilemma for compatibilist views that reductively explain free will in terms of dispositions. Robert's website: https://www.roberthwallace.com/ Robert's paper, "A Dilemma for Reductive Compatibilism": https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10670-021-00475-w Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/...

May 29, 202355 minSeason 6Ep. 10

Episode 59: Crime and Public Health with Nadine Elzein

In this episode we talk with Nadine Elzein about the public health model for responding to criminal behavior. We ask about reasons for preferring this model (including free will skepticism) as well as some common objections to treating crime like a public health issue. Nadine's website: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/philosophy/people/summaries/elzein/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Fr...

May 15, 202338 minSeason 6Ep. 9

Episode 58: Options and Agency with John Maier

In this episode we talk with John Maier about what he calls 'options' and how they’re related in other issues in the philosophy of agency. John's website: https://www.jmaier.net John's book, Options and Agency : https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-10243-1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/...

May 01, 202331 minSeason 6Ep. 8

Episode 57: The Reason View with Susan Wolf

In this episode, we talk with Susan Wolf about her view of free will, which she calls "The Reason View," and how her view has evolved over the years. Susan's website: https://philosophy.unc.edu/people/susan-wolf/ Susan's book, Freedom within Reason : https://global.oup.com/academic/product/freedom-within-reason-9780195085655?cc=us&lang=en& Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-W...

Apr 17, 202343 minSeason 6Ep. 7

Episode 56: Raising the Stakes in the Free Will Debate with Justin Caouette

In this episode, we talk with Justin Caouette about a variety of topics that he’s interested in in the free will debate as well as what is at stake in the debate itself. Justin's website: http://www.profjustincaouette.com/ Justin's co-edited volume, Free Will and Moral Responsibility : https://www.cambridgescholars.com/free-will-and-moral-responsibility-15 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/T...

Apr 03, 202342 minSeason 6Ep. 6

Episode 55: Blameworthiness and Forgiveness with Per-Erik Milam

In this episode, we talk with Per-Erik Milam about blameworthiness and forgiveness. Along the way, we talk about two types of view about what forgiveness is. Per's website: http://www.pererikmilam.com/ Per's chapter discussed in the episode is called "Forgiveness," and it is in the Oxford Handbook of Moral Responsibility: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-oxford-handbook-of-moral-responsibility-9780190679309 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram....

Mar 20, 202346 minSeason 6Ep. 5

Episode 54: Action Explanations with Megan Fritts

In this episode we talk with Megan Fritts about causal and non-causal theories of action explanation and why she prefers a non-causal approach. Megan's website: https://sites.google.com/view/meganjfritts/home Megan's paper, "Reasons Explanations as Structural Explanations": https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11229-021-03349-4 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-10553...

Mar 06, 202326 minSeason 6Ep. 4

Episode 53: Manipulation and Intentional Agency with Andrei Buckareff

In this episode, we talk with Andrei Buckareff about a kind of soft-line response to the manipulation argument that draws from work within the philosophy of action. Andrei's website: https://sites.google.com/site/andreibuckareff/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/...

Feb 20, 202351 minSeason 6Ep. 3

Episode 52: Free Will as a Natural Kind with Oisín Deery

In this episode, we talk with Oisín Deery about his work on free will as a natural kind. Along the way, we talk about what it feels like to act freely, whether freedom is compatible with determinism, and whether artificial intelligences could have free will. Oisin's website: https://www.oisindeery.com/ Oisin's book, Naturally Free Action : https://global.oup.com/academic/product/naturally-free-action-9780198789796?cc=ie&lang=de&resultsPerPage=60&sortField=8 Twitter: https://twitter.c...

Feb 06, 202333 minSeason 6Ep. 2

Episode 51: Flickers of Freedom with Bradford Stockdale

In this episode, we discuss a popular response to Frankfurt cases called the "flicker of freedom" strategy. Our guest is Bradford Stockdale. Brad's PhilPeople profile: https://philpeople.org/profiles/bradford-stockdale Brad's paper, "Moral Responsibility, Alternative Possibilities, and Acting on One's Own": https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10892-020-09353-z Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.fac...

Jan 23, 202334 minSeason 6Ep. 1

Episode 50: Double Compatibilism with Greg Welty

In this episode, we talk with Greg Welty about what compatibilists about freedom and determinism could contribute to the debate about freedom and foreknowledge. Greg's website: http://www.gregwelty.com/ Greg's book, Why Is There Evil in the World (And So Much Of It)? : https://www.christianfocus.com/products/2741/why-is-there-evil-in Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-10553...

Dec 12, 20221 hr 30 minSeason 5Ep. 10

Episode 49: Open Theism, Part 2 with Patrick Todd

This is our second of two episodes on open theism. We talk with Patrick Todd about two versions of the view and why he prefers the open future open theist view. Patrick's website: http://www.patricktodd.co/ Patrick's book, The Open Future: Why Future Contingents Are All False : https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-open-future-9780192897916?cc=us&lang=en& Collection of essays co-edited and co-introduced by Patrick (with John Martin Fischer), Freedom, Fatalism, and Foreknowledge : h...

Nov 28, 202249 minSeason 5Ep. 9

Episode 48: Open Theism, Part 1 with William Hasker

This is our first of two episodes on open theism, the view that we have free will and that it is incompatible with divine foreknowledge. In this episode, we talk with William Hasker about reasons to be an open theist and some potential challenges. Bill's website: https://www.huntington.edu/meet-the-faculty/william-hasker Influential book on open theism, to which Bill is a contributor, The Openness of God : https://www.ivpress.com/the-openness-of-god Bill's book, God, Time and Knowledge : https:/...

Nov 14, 202254 minSeason 5Ep. 8

Episode 47: Sourcehood Libertarianism with David Hunt

In this episode, we talk with David Hunt about the source-libertarian response to the problem of freedom and foreknowledge, according to which, although causal determinism would rule out moral responsibility, alternative possibilities are not required. David's website: https://www.whittier.edu/academics/philosophy/david-hunt David's paper, "On Augustine's Way Out": https://www.pdcnet.org/scholarpdf/show?id=faithphil_1999_0016_0001_0003_0026&pdfname=faithphil_1999_0016_0001_0003_0026.pdf&...

Oct 31, 202245 minSeason 5Ep. 7

Episode 46: The Dependence Response, Part 2 with Philip Swenson

This episode is the second in a two-part series on the dependence response to the problem of freedom and foreknowledge. In this episode, we talk with Philip Swenson about his version of the dependence response, whether Molinists can accept the response, and more. Philip's website: https://sites.google.com/site/philipjswenson/home Philip's paper, "Ability, Foreknowledge, and Explanatory Dependence": https://philpapers.org/archive/SWEAFA.pdf Another interview with Philip on his dilemma for Molinis...

Oct 17, 202238 minSeason 5Ep. 6

Episode 45: The Dependence Response, Part 1 with Trenton Merricks

This episode is the first in a two-part series on the dependence response to the problem of freedom and foreknowledge. In this episode, we talk with Trenton Merricks about truth, dependence, foreknowledge, and freedom. Trenton's website: https://www.trentonmerricks.com/ Trenton's paper, "Truth and Freedom": https://www.trentonmerricks.com/public/publications/Truth-and-Freedom.pdf Trenton's paper, "Foreknowledge and Freedom": https://www.trentonmerricks.com/public/publications/Merricks-F-and-F-PR...

Oct 03, 202236 minSeason 5Ep. 5

Episode 44: Molinism with William Lane Craig

In this episode, we talk with William Lane Craig about Molinism, a view about the compatibility of divine providence and human free will that is sometimes brought up in response to the challenge of divine foreknowledge. Bill's website: https://www.reasonablefaith.org/ Bill's book, The Only Wise God : https://wipfandstock.com/9781579103163/the-only-wise-god/ Bill's book, Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom : https://brill.com/view/title/2069?language=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewill...

Sep 19, 202242 minSeason 5Ep. 4

Episode 43: Ockhamism with Amy Seymour

In this episode, we talk with Amy Seymour about Ockhamist solution to the problem of freedom and foreknowledge. Along the way, we discuss various related issues in the philosophy of time. Amy's website: https://www.amyseymour.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/...

Sep 05, 20221 hrSeason 5Ep. 3

Episode 42: Boethianism with Katherin Rogers

In this episode, we talk with Katherin Rogers about the Boethian response to the problem of freedom and foreknowledge, according to which God’s timelessness helps to solve the problem. Kate's website: https://www.udel.edu/faculty-staff/experts/katherin-rogers/ Kate's recent book, The Experimental Approach to Free Will : https://www.routledge.com/The-Experimental-Approach-to-Free-Will-Freedom-in-the-Laboratory/Rogers/p/book/9781032194028 Kate's book, Freedom and Self Creation: Anselmian Libertari...

Aug 22, 202241 minSeason 5Ep. 2
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