<p>You decided to start reading this. But could you have chosen otherwise? </p><p><br></p><p>In this short epilogue to this fall&#39;s <a href="https://onhumans.substack.com/p/brain" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">brain science -series</a>, Oxford biologist Tim Coulson gives his defense of free will. </p><p>(The episode is an unheard clip from the conversation with Tim Coulson, originally recorded as part of the <a href="https://onhumans.substack.com/p/origins" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Origins of Humankind</a> -series in March 2025. )</p><p><strong>LINKS </strong></p><p>For highlights, longer quotes, and references, see my essay at <a href="https://onhumans.substack.com/p/is-the-brain-free-to-choose" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">OnHumans.Substack.com</a>.</p><p>Tim Coulson&#39;s book is called <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-History-Us-13-8-billion/dp/0241662303" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>The Universal History of Us </em></a><em> </em>(in the UK) and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Science-Why-We-Exist-Consciousness/dp/1639366520" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>The Science of Why We Exist</em></a><em> </em>(in the US). </p><p>For more episodes on the human brain, check <a href="http://OnHumans.Substack.com/brain" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠OnHumans.Substack.com/Brain⁠⁠</a></p><p>Want to support the show? Join the club at <a href="http://Patreon.com/OnHumans" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Patreon.com/OnHumans⁠⁠</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>MENTIONS</strong></p><p><strong>Names: </strong>Albert Einstein | Niels Bohr </p><p><strong>Terms and concepts: </strong> free will | many worlds -interpretation vs the Copenhaguen interpretation of quantum mechanics | Brownian motion | Quantum biology | stochasticity vs determinism | neural integration vs complexity | chance &amp; necessity | philosophy | physics | biology | neuroscience</p>

On Humans

Ilari Mäkelä

Epilogue: Is the Brain Free to Choose? ~ Tim Coulson

NOV 5, 202516 MIN
On Humans

Epilogue: Is the Brain Free to Choose? ~ Tim Coulson

NOV 5, 202516 MIN

Description

<p>You decided to start reading this. But could you have chosen otherwise? </p><p><br></p><p>In this short epilogue to this fall&#39;s <a href="https://onhumans.substack.com/p/brain" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">brain science -series</a>, Oxford biologist Tim Coulson gives his defense of free will. </p><p>(The episode is an unheard clip from the conversation with Tim Coulson, originally recorded as part of the <a href="https://onhumans.substack.com/p/origins" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Origins of Humankind</a> -series in March 2025. )</p><p><strong>LINKS </strong></p><p>For highlights, longer quotes, and references, see my essay at <a href="https://onhumans.substack.com/p/is-the-brain-free-to-choose" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">OnHumans.Substack.com</a>.</p><p>Tim Coulson&#39;s book is called <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-History-Us-13-8-billion/dp/0241662303" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>The Universal History of Us </em></a><em> </em>(in the UK) and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Science-Why-We-Exist-Consciousness/dp/1639366520" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>The Science of Why We Exist</em></a><em> </em>(in the US). </p><p>For more episodes on the human brain, check <a href="http://OnHumans.Substack.com/brain" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠OnHumans.Substack.com/Brain⁠⁠</a></p><p>Want to support the show? Join the club at <a href="http://Patreon.com/OnHumans" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠Patreon.com/OnHumans⁠⁠</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>MENTIONS</strong></p><p><strong>Names: </strong>Albert Einstein | Niels Bohr </p><p><strong>Terms and concepts: </strong> free will | many worlds -interpretation vs the Copenhaguen interpretation of quantum mechanics | Brownian motion | Quantum biology | stochasticity vs determinism | neural integration vs complexity | chance &amp; necessity | philosophy | physics | biology | neuroscience</p>