Azadi, Poria (2025) Naturalizing Free Will: Emergent Autonomy as Life's Tapestry. [Preprint]

Text Naturalizing Free Will Emergent Autonomy as Life's Tapestry_Poria Azadi_(version 2).pdf Download (206kB)

Abstract

This paper proposes a naturalistic, emergentist libertarian account of free will, conceptualized as emergent autonomy arising from biological organization and inherent physical indeterminacy. Critiquing classical deterministic assumptions about static time and infinite precision, we introduce "creative time" (objective, dynamic becoming) and "potentiality realism" (objective possibilities) as foundations. Autonomy emerges from the interplay of organizational closure (self-maintenance), non-equilibrium thermodynamics, and the system's capacity to harness ontic indeterminacy (objective openness utilized functionally). Drawing on systems biology, physics, and process philosophy, we outline the philosophical basis (emergence, potentiality realism), scientific principles (thermodynamics, dynamics), biological realization (minimal agency, materiality), and a model of choice involving downward constraint (organizational influence) and emergent sourcehood (agent as origin). We address neural implementation, reinterpret empirical challenges (e.g., Libet), and defend against objections (luck, manipulation). This framework offers a research program for understanding freedom as a graded, natural phenomenon rooted in life's organization unfolding through creative time.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Azadi, Poria poria.azadi96@gmail.com 0000-0002-7692-6833
Keywords:	Free Will, Emergent Autonomy, Ontic Indeterminacy, Creative Time, Potentiality Realism, Organizational Closure, Ontic Indeterminacy, Downward Constraint, Naturalist Libertarianism.
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics Specific Sciences > Chemistry Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence > Classical AI Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Poria Azadi
Date Deposited:	02 May 2025 12:34
Last Modified:	02 May 2025 12:34
Item ID:	25228
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics Specific Sciences > Chemistry Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence > Classical AI Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	19 April 2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25228

Available Versions of this Item

• Naturalizing Free Will: Emergent Autonomy as Life's Tapestry. (deposited 19 Apr 2025 15:34)
  • Naturalizing Free Will: Emergent Autonomy as Life's Tapestry. (deposited 02 May 2025 12:34) [Currently Displayed]

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