Exploring the existence of free will: A neuroscientific investigation

Free will, an age-old philosophical concept, is integral to our understanding of human autonomy, ethical responsibility, and the legal system. Its presence or absence fundamentally influences our decisions and the fabric of societal norms. In recent years, the advancement of neuroscience has made re-evaluating free will increasingly important. This paper reviews philosophical perspectives from ancient to modern times, integrates neuroscientific experiments, and analyzes psychological research to comprehensively explore the issue of the existence of free will. It enumerates contemporary mainstream views on the existence of free will, discusses the sources of the sense of free will, and highlights its profound implications for both individual and collective societal structures. The paper finds that current discussions on the existence of free will remain controversial. In the end, it summarizes the findings and provides an outlook on future research. New technologies and further interdisciplinary studies are expected to offer new perspectives and evidence for understanding free will.