Join us for an intriguing discussion as two of the leading minds in the world of neuroscience, Kevin J. Mitchell and Anil Seth, explore one of the most profound questions in philosophy and science: Is there such a thing as free will? Delving into the realms of determinism and compatibilism, they'll examine whether our choices are truly free or governed by forces beyond our control.

As neuroscientists probe ever deeper into the mechanics of decision making, many conclude that agency - or free will - is an illusion. In his latest book, Free Agents, Kevin Mitchell argues to the contrary, claiming that we are not mere machines responding to physical forces but agents acting with purpose. In his book, Being You, Anil Seth puts forward the theory that free will is not an 'uncaused cause' but a particular way of experiencing action generated within the brain and body. He argues that understanding free will involves recognising it as a perception of action, rather than an uncaused phenomenon.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation that will challenge your understanding of human agency, consciousness, and the nature of reality itself.

KEVIN MITCHELL

Kevin is an Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin. His research is aimed at understanding the genetic program specifying the wiring of the brain and its relevance to variation in human faculties, especially to psychiatric and neurological disease and to perceptual conditions like synaesthesia. He also studies the biology of agency and free will and his latest book is 'Free Agents'.

ANIL SETH

Anil is Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex and Director of the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science. He is also Co-Director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) Program on Brain, Mind, & Consciousness. He is the author of 'Being You: A New Science of Consciousness' which was awarded Best Science Book of 2021 by The Guardian and the Financial Times.