Course Details

In "Consciousness, Free Will, and a New Ontology for Science," Steve Minett argues that free will exists and is inextricably linked to consciousness. He bases his views on Alfred North Whitehead's ontology, proposing that sentience is the fundamental "stuff" of reality. Minett suggests that consciousness is characterized by qualia—subjective experiences—that play a crucial role in the homeostatic well-being of organisms. He contends that free will is enabled by the flexibility of behavioral responses driven by sentient consciousness, which evaluates experiences as 'good' or 'bad' for well-being. Minett critiques mainstream science for dismissing qualia and free will, emphasizing that a new ontological approach is necessary to understand these phenomena.

  • Understand the relationship between consciousness and free will according to Steve Minett.

  • Describe Alfred North Whitehead's ontological account of sentience and its implications for consciousness.

  • Explain the concept of qualia and their significance in Minett's theory of consciousness.

  • Discuss the role of consciousness in promoting homeostatic well-being and behavioral flexibility.

  • Analyze the limitations of mainstream scientific approaches to consciousness and free will.

  • Evaluate the potential of a new ontological framework in addressing the 'Hard Problem' of consciousness and the nature of free will.

Course curriculum

    1. Consciousness, Free Will and a New Ontology for Science

    2. A New Ontology Quiz

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