On 25-26 November 2010, the Institute for Philosophy of Leiden University organises a workshop on the implications of empirical research on mental causation and free will:
"The Efficacy of Conscious Intentions and Plans: Philosophical and Empirical Perspectives." 

Times
Thursday, November 25th, 13:00 – 17:30 h
Friday, November 26th, 9:00 – 15:30 h

Location
Gravensteen building, Pieterskerkhof 6, Leiden
Route description (in Dutch)

Subject
Theorizing about intentional action and free will has a long history in philosophy, and the study of human behavior has a fairly long history in the empirical sciences. For the most part, these two strands of research were independent of each other. This has changed in the more recent past primarily due to the provocative work of Benjamin Libet and Daniel Wegner. Their empirical work on free will and conscious intention has received a great deal of attention in philosophy, and in response some scientists have incorporated philosophical distinctions and concepts into their work.

Aim
The aim of the workshop is to bring together scientists and philosophers who work on human action in order to discuss questions concerning the role of conscious intentions in the light of more recent evidence, or by way of re-assessing the challenges that Libet’s and Wegner’s work have raised.

Speakers

• Marcel Brass (Gent)

• Sandrine Duverne (Paris)

• John-Dylan Haynes (Berlin)

• Gerben Meynen (Amsterdam)

• Elisabeth Pacherie (Paris)

• Markus Schlosser (Leiden)

• Marc Slors (Nijmegen)

Attendance is free, but limited in numbers. If you would like to attend, please send an e-mail to Markus Schlosser ( m.schlosser@hum.leidenuniv.nl).