Author

Mark Lilla

Professor of Humanities at Columbia University, and author of several books including, most recently, “Ignorance and Bliss: On Wanting Not to Know” (Hurst), from which this edited extract is taken.

Professor of Humanities at Columbia University, and author of several books including, most recently, “Ignorance and Bliss: On Wanting Not to Know” (Hurst), from which this edited extract is taken.

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Reality Bites

Two abstract figures in deep contemplation, one seated on a cube and the other on a pyramid, both with geometric shapes on their heads, expressing themes of thought and introspection.

Anita Avramides

The Minds of Strangers

A hooded figure in a dark suit stands in a futuristic setting, holding a black helmet, with vertical light patterns in the background.

The Last Jedi and the Problem of Free Will

A close-up of a police car's flashing blue lights, with blurred traffic and city lights in the background at night.

Berit Brogaard,Dimitria Gatzia

The three faces of racism

A solitary figure stands in the center of a vast, intricate maze, symbolizing a search for clarity or direction amidst complexity.

Meghan Griffith

Free will vs determinism: Can you escape fate?

Free will: an impossible reality

A wooden mannequin pushes over blocks arranged like dominoes against an orange background, illustrating the concept of cause and effect.

Moral responsibility without free will

A surreal scene depicting two open doors, one blue and one orange, leading into vibrant, starry galaxies, symbolizing contrasting worlds or choices.

Dana Kay Nelkin,Derk Pereboom

Free will or no free will, punishment is justified

A handgun and a gavel rest on an American flag, symbolizing the intersection of law and gun rights.

Supremacy, Liberty and the Right

A solitary figure stands in a stark, abstract maze, surrounded by high concrete walls, conveying a sense of isolation and contemplation.

The free will debate has real-world consequences

Colorful abstract representation of data visualization, with a spiraling pattern resembling digital pixels radiating outward from a central point on a dark background.

Alexis Papazoglou

Denis Noble: Free will is not an illusion

A businessman running on an upward arrow, breaking through a wall, symbolizing progress and overcoming obstacles in a red background.

There is no such thing as weak will

A stylized portrait of Friedrich Nietzsche, featuring a prominent mustache and a serious expression against a pink background.

Donovan Miyasaki

Nietzsche and the myth of free will

A surreal sculpture depicting a human head as a birdcage, with a white dove flying out, symbolizing freedom and liberation from confinement.

Alexandre Fillon

Free will is an invention

A black-and-white portrait of Albert Camus set against a colorful abstract background with vibrant blues and greens.

Camus and the absurdity of freedom

A silhouette of a woman holding chains stands in the ocean, with waves crashing around her and birds soaring against a vibrant orange sunset.

Sapolsky vs Sartre: The free will debate is not over

Chinas radical philosophy of action and the self

China’s radical philosophy of action, free will, and the self

A figure wrapped in rope stands in an open field under a dramatic sky, conveying themes of entrapment and struggle.

Véronique Mottier

The Iron Cage of Reason

A woman with long hair stands at the beach, her head partially covered by a flowing grey scarf against a cloudy sky and calm sea.

Intuition vs Reason

A lone figure walks away while dragging a large, oversized key across a barren landscape, symbolizing themes of struggle or searching for meaning.

Issue 54: The Limits of Reason

A medical professional in a lab coat holds a stylized brain, symbolizing healthcare and neuroscience, with a stethoscope around their neck and a digital background.

Julian Savulescu,Sylvia Terbeck

The Future of Moral Enhancement

Microscopic view of cellular structures, showcasing interconnected filaments and red entities, possibly representing proteins or particles, against a contrasting yellow and blue background.

The Secrets of Experience

A small evergreen tree lightly dusted with snow, set against a soft, blurred blue and white winter background.

Lawrence C. Becker

On Being A Stoic At Christmas

A polar bear crouches by the water's edge, gazing into its reflection on a calm lake, with rocky terrain and greenery in the background.

David Peña-Guzmán

To Be, Or Not To Be: Can Animals Commit Suicide?

A person holds a glowing red neon heart against a dark background, creating a dramatic and romantic atmosphere.

Zara Yaqob and The Rationality of the Human Heart

An illustration of a man performing hypnosis on a woman seated in a chair, with visible energy lines suggestive of mental focus or control.

How The Occult Thrived in an Age of Enlightenment

A man with glasses and a bald head, dressed in a suit, sitting at a table with a microphone, appearing serious, against a dark blue backdrop.

Vices of the Mind

Illustration of a bearded man's face with curly hair, set against a pink background, reminiscent of ancient Greek philosopher Marcus Aurelius.

Massimo Pigliucci

Marcus Aurelius – the Unemotional Stoic?

A person holding a crystal orb reflecting their silhouette against a vibrant sunset backdrop.

Why Humans Are The Most Irrational Animals

A vibrant, abstract illustration of a futuristic face composed of colorful, wavy lines against a dark background, suggesting themes of technology and digital aesthetics.

Anandi Hattiangadi

Is this real life, or The Matrix?