Freedom of will is a hotly debated topic. Most discussions concern the question of whether the brain is a
deterministic machine and what consequences this has for the concept of personal responsibility. Above and
apart from this metaphysical discussion, cognitive neuroscience has begun to investigate volition empirically.
Much of this research is subsumed under the headings of executive or cognitive control. In this seminar, we will
focus on psychological, neuroscientific, and clinical research on volition and will power, whether or not this is a
unitary concept and whether it can be trained. Besides, we will conduct experiments with participants.
Sprache: Lectures will primarily be given in English.
Teilnehmende: Advanced students of psychology, neuroscience, medicine or related fields or strong interest in those topics. Reading of the introductory literature is mandatory.
Leitung:
Prof. Christof Koch, Division of Biology and Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of
Technology, Pasadena, California http://www.klab.caltech.edu
Prof. Henrik Walter, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Medical Psychology,
Universitätsklink Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/psychiatrie/mp/mitarbeiter/walter.htm
Assisted by Frau Corinna Nüsser, Universität Bonn
Gastreferenten:
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Eric Kubli
Literatur:
We will provide pdf files of the relevant literature.
Walter H: The Neurophilosophy of Free will. MIT Press: Cambridge, MA 2001 (auf Deutsch Neurophilosophie der
Willensfreiheit, Paderborn: Schöningh, 1998
Wegner DM: The Illusion of Conscious Will. MIT Press: Cambridge, MA 2002.
Ort: Bildungszentrum Wald, Maienfeld (GR)
