- Department: Psychology
- Module co-ordinator: Dr. Rob Jenkins
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2018-19
Occurrence | Teaching cycle |
---|---|
A | Autumn Term 2018-19 |
We normally feel that we have free will; in particular, that we choose what to do, that our choices have consequences, and that we could have done otherwise. This feeling is fundamental to our private mental lives, and to many ethical, judicial, and religious ideas. However, it is not easy to reconcile with the picture of the world that emerges from science. Philosophers have grappled with this problem for centuries, but it is only recently that experimental psychologists, cognitive scientists, and neuroscientists have joined the fray.
This module provides an overview of theoretical and experimental work on the psychology of will, emphasising recent results from cognitive sciences, and relating these to their historical context. It also provides an opportunity to discuss will in relation to practical problems in the real world.
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
University - closed examination The Psychology of Will |
1.5 hours | 100 |
None
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
University - closed examination The Psychology of Will |
1.5 hours | 100 |
The marks on all assessed work will be provided on e-vision
These marks will be accompanied by module feedback circulated via e-mail.
Students will meet supervisors in wk 6 in AuT, SpT and wk 9 in SuT to discuss their marks.
Sample Reading:
Wegner, D. M. (2004). Précis of The illusion of conscious will, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 27, 634–692.
Ainslie, G. (2005). Precis of breakdown of will, Behavioural and Brain Sciences, 28 635–650.
Harris, S. (2012). Free will. Free Press. USA.