Who decides which forms of resistance are legitimate?
Do we really have free will?
Town Hall
This debate asks whether we truly have free will—and what that means for everyday ethics, the justice system and forgiveness.
Are we in control of our choices, or is free will just an illusion?
Groundbreaking neuroscience and behavioral psychology suggest that our decisions might be dictated by internal processes beyond our conscious awareness. Meanwhile, AI arguably reduces human autonomy by making fewer—and less authentic—choices on our behalf. So how much control do we really have? And if there is no such thing as genuine free will, then what are the ramifications for our justice systems?
This debate explores how societies with different belief systems grapple with the concept of autonomy. Guided by host Imran Garda, expert guests Gregg Caruso, Jeremy Koons and Dr. Omar Suleiman explore differing conceptions of free will, and how they might shape everyday ethics and criminal justice systems. Can we hold people accountable if they have no ability to choose their actions freely? Do we punish or rehabilitate? And how do we approach forgiveness?
