Free Will: Reality and Perception

The debate on free will in psychology has moved beyond the question of whether libertarian free will can exist in a world governed by necessity and chance (i.e., causal determinism and uncertainty). There is much interest in the question of whether the belief in free will is good for the believer or the community. The first part of this perspective paper defends the claim that libertarian free will does not, and indeed cannot, exist. The second part argues that compatibilism does not help but rather hinders scientific progress. Likewise, the epistemology of pragmatism misconstrues questions of reality, perception, and predictive accuracy. The third part reviews empirical findings showing that the belief in free will, though false, can be useful to believers in that it can elevate self-perception and the readiness to interact with others assumed to believe in free will.