
The Free Will Show
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
Latest episodes

Aug 16, 2023 • 51min
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/thefreewillshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/

May 29, 2023 • 55min
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-wTwitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/

May 15, 2023 • 38min
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/thefreewillshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/

May 1, 2023 • 31min
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.netJohn's book, Options and Agency: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-10243-1Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/

Apr 17, 2023 • 43min
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/thefreewillshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/

Apr 3, 2023 • 42min
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-15Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/

Mar 20, 2023 • 46min
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-9780190679309Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/

Mar 6, 2023 • 26min
Episode 54: Action Explanations with Megan Fritts
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Megan Fritts, discusses non-causal theories of action explanation. Topics include the critique of utilitarianism, the superiority of structural explanations, interpretations of the practical syllogism, and addressing Davidson's Challenge.

Feb 20, 2023 • 51min
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/thefreewillshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/

Feb 6, 2023 • 33min
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=8Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefreewillshowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreewillshow/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Free-Will-Show-105535031200408/