Trends Cogn Sci July 2022 PMID 35428589

Free will without consciousness?

Liad Mudrik, Inbal Gur Arie, Yoni Amir, Yarden Shir, Pamela Hieronymi, Uri Maoz, Timothy O'Connor, Aaron Schurger, Manuel Vargas, Tillmann Vierkant, Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Adina Roskies

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Mentions

Peak: 15 in Jun 2022

across 5 sources since Apr 2022

Extended reach

204,534

potential audience

Total likes

325

Video views

3,779

Mentions per month

Apr 2022 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

X / Twitter46 posts
Facebook3 posts
YouTube2 videos
News2 articles
Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The group shows high interest by citing recent research and debates on free will without consciousness, with posts referencing scientific papers and discussions about broader implications, which reflects a deep engagement with the complex issues raised by the publication and its potential to influence scientific and philosophical perspectives.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge that free will can exist without full consciousness, but some express skepticism about fully understanding or accepting this idea.

InterestHigh interest

Numerous posts demonstrate high curiosity, referencing scientific studies, debates, and implications for policy, indicating strong engagement.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts include references to specific research articles and debates about the nature of free will, suggesting active involvement in the topic.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions highlight considerable implications for philosophy, neuroscience, and societal policies, indicating moderate to high influence of the publication.

Abstract in brief

The article discusses how scientific studies have shown that brain activity related to decisions often happens before we are consciously aware of making a choice, raising questions about free will.
It highlights that unconscious processes can influence or bias decisions, but these influences don't necessarily eliminate free will; instead, they reveal specific limitations on decision-making in certain situations.
The authors believe that some aspects of the free will debate can be tested through scientific research, which can offer valuable insights and help bridge the gap between science and philosophy about human choice.]

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All mentions

Examining Free Will Through Neural Mechanisms

Some argue our sense of free will is an illusion based on when we become consciously aware of our intentions. Evidence suggests unreflective intentions form before conscious awareness, challenging free will. This video…

Brains Blog · Sep 22, 2023 3,584 views

Exploring Free Will Without Consciousness: A Discussion

In this episode, we discuss a paper on whether free will can exist without consciousness. Join us for a 2-hour discussion with scholars from Monash University, tackling the complexities of this intriguing topic based on…

Neural basis of Consciousness & Qualia Structure · Jun 10, 2023 195 views

Views By King

@viewsByKing · X

"You can't have free will without consciousness"

Sep 16, 2025 · 18 followers View post →

Radio Maso

@sparklingmixer · X

@grok I don't think it can work that way as I interpret that as the quantum being what consciousness is. You cannot have free will without consciousness and I know the arguments there, but free will is a thing for conscious beings. You, for eg: are a purely deterministic machine.

Jul 27, 2025 · 255 followers View post →

Ian

@itodd888 · X

@suzannegildert @kparrish51 No free will without consciousness

Jul 14, 2025 · 743 followers View post →

Sushma Anand Akoju. She/Her/Hers

@morals4kindness · X

The work on "Free will without consciousness?" by Prof. Liad Mudrik (from an amazing talk that I attended at cogsci, University of Arizona, https://t.co/XfFcESTPsO) suggests reduced/compromised ability (rendering it unfree will) during decision making. This is because unconscious

Apr 9, 2025 · 1 like · 92 followers View post →

Meta Philosopher ♦️

@metaphilosopher · X

Can p-zombies have free will without consciousness?

Mar 2, 2025 · 2 likes · 1,764 followers View post →

Jaydon | #YorubasForPeterObi

@Jaydon225 · X

Free will without consciousness?: Trends in Cognitive Sciences https://t.co/7tCQFDXgh4

Dec 6, 2024 · 1 like · 8,615 followers View post →

Urban Xavier

@xavier_urban · X

@Kat__Woods What has free will without consciousness?

Dec 5, 2024 · 1 like · 163 followers View post →

Pilar

@pilarrzX · X

@Lovandfear This hits so hard. Free will without consciousness will most likely, I’d even dare to say definitively, lead you adrift until one day you are completely lost.

Nov 27, 2024 · 2 likes · 19 followers View post →

Colin Hoy

@colinwhoy · X

RT @philofbrains: Want to study or teach some #neuroscience, its #philosophy, or #neurophilosophy, but feel unprepared? Use our free Begi…

Oct 7, 2024 · 4 shares · 902 followers View post →

Abel TM

@Abel_TorresM · X

Is there free will without consciousness? If yes, how? If not, can we explain free will while lacking understanding of consciousness?

Jul 8, 2024 · 5 likes · 1,119 followers View post →

Anita Leirfall

@anitaleirfall · X

RT @philofbrains: Want to study or teach some #neuroscience, its #philosophy, or #neurophilosophy, but feel unprepared? Use our free Begi…

Jun 25, 2024 · 4 shares · 25,782 followers View post →

Heiji Shindo

@heijishindo · X

@aniketvartak Free will without consciousness is like trying to steer a ship without a captain. Awareness is the path to liberation.

Jun 6, 2024 · 1 like · 60 followers View post →

John

@John29555 · X

Apr 19, 2024 · 7 likes · 264 followers View post →

T.J. Quoin

@TJQuoin · X

RT @TJQuoin: Free will and consciousness... Is there consciousness without free will? Is there free will without consciousness? Is conscio…

Mar 23, 2024 · 1 share · 3 followers View post →

T.J. Quoin

@TJQuoin · X

Free will and consciousness... Is there consciousness without free will? Is there free will without consciousness? Is consciousness fundamental? Is consciousness emergent? Is there agency without consciousness? Is there consciousness without agency? .../2

Mar 23, 2024 · 1 share · 3 followers View post →

APHTHARTOS APOLETHEIOS

@Benoit_Beyeler · X

RT @philofbrains: Want to study or teach some #neuroscience, its #philosophy, or #neurophilosophy, but feel unprepared? Use our free Begi…

Jan 5, 2024 · 4 shares · 118 followers View post →

Kevin Mitchell

@WiringTheBrain · X

RT @philofbrains: Want to study or teach some #neuroscience, its #philosophy, or #neurophilosophy, but feel unprepared? Use our free Begi…

Jan 5, 2024 · 4 shares · 40,170 followers View post →

The Brains Blog (fediscience.org/@Brains)

@philofbrains · X

Jan 5, 2024 · 17 likes · 4 shares · 4,723 followers View post →

にしやま

@enuyn34 · X

RT @tweet_taiki: 2022年の、自由意志の認知科学の総説です　ジョン・テンプルトン財団から予算を得ているからか、「人々は無意識にナッジされちゃうけどその影響に抵抗できるからやはり自由意志があるよ」と Free will without consciousnes…

Aug 25, 2023 · 2 shares · 142 followers View post →

高橋泰城（たかはしたいき）

@tweet_taiki · X

Aug 25, 2023 · 12 likes · 2 shares · 10,055 followers View post →

つねさん

@aucuba2cat · X

RT @afcp_01: もうちょっと真面目な方向だと、自由意志に関するこの Trends Cogn Sci のレビューはほんとに面白かった。 https://t.co/v0ZPWw4d3m

Jul 1, 2023 · 2 shares · 124 followers View post →

さくら

@sakuranokaori19 · X

RT @afcp_01: もうちょっと真面目な方向だと、自由意志に関するこの Trends Cogn Sci のレビューはほんとに面白かった。 https://t.co/v0ZPWw4d3m

Jul 1, 2023 · 2 shares · 476 followers View post →

akimaeno

@akimaeno · X

RT @afcp_01: もうちょっと真面目な方向だと、自由意志に関するこの Trends Cogn Sci のレビューはほんとに面白かった。 https://t.co/v0ZPWw4d3m

Jul 1, 2023 · 2 shares · 948 followers View post →

afcp

@afcp_01 · X

もうちょっと真面目な方向だと、自由意志に関するこの Trends Cogn Sci のレビューはほんとに面白かった。 https://t.co/v0ZPWw4d3m

Jul 1, 2023 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 35,935 followers View post →

Tim Cocks

@altThinq · X

RT @LiangQianchen: Free will without consciousness? Mudrik et al., 2022, Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Paper: https://t.co/0hbDIwOKJ5 Our…

Jun 11, 2023 · 4 shares · 1,521 followers View post →

Consciousness - tlab

@conscious_tlab · X

RT @LiangQianchen: Free will without consciousness? Mudrik et al., 2022, Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Paper: https://t.co/0hbDIwOKJ5 Our…

Jun 10, 2023 · 4 shares · 4,686 followers View post →

Yota Kawashima

@YotaKawashima · X

RT @LiangQianchen: Free will without consciousness? Mudrik et al., 2022, Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Paper: https://t.co/0hbDIwOKJ5 Our…

Jun 10, 2023 · 4 shares · 141 followers View post →

Ryoichi WATANABE, PhD.

@watanaberkyoto · X

RT @LiangQianchen: Free will without consciousness? Mudrik et al., 2022, Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Paper: https://t.co/0hbDIwOKJ5 Our…

Jun 10, 2023 · 4 shares · 3,549 followers View post →

Liang Qianchen

@LiangQianchen · X

Jun 10, 2023 · 12 likes · 4 shares · 255 followers View post →

@kilnerevonnet · X

@TNWJackson @renatrigiorese I know. I just thought it was important to highlight it bc it has wide implications for policies that are likely going to fail. Maybe you find this interesting: https://t.co/Jp1P6zogsJ

Oct 31, 2022 · 1 like · 708 followers View post →

たきた

@takita_ma · X

RT @watanaberkyoto: Free will without consciousness? https://t.co/OLaz2arrPP

Jun 18, 2022 · 1 share · 174 followers View post →

Ryoichi WATANABE, PhD.

@watanaberkyoto · X

Free will without consciousness? https://t.co/OLaz2arrPP

Jun 18, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 3,964 followers View post →

Szilvia Lestyán

@LestyanSzilvia · X