[Paper Review] Only what exists can cause: An intrinsic view of free will

Giulio Tononi, Larissa Albantakis+3 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jun 4, 2022

Philosophy and Theoretical Science48 citations

TL;DR

The paper argues, within Integrated Information Theory (IIT), that true free will exists in a fundamental sense because consciousness is about intrinsic cause-effect power, and only intrinsic entities that truly exist can be the true causes of our actions.

ABSTRACT

This essay addresses the implications of integrated information theory (IIT) for free will. IIT is a theory of what consciousness is and what it takes to have it. According to IIT, the presence of consciousness is accounted for by a maximum of cause-effect power in the brain. Moreover, the way specific experiences feel is accounted for by how that cause-effect power is structured. If IIT is right, we do have free will in the fundamental sense: we have true alternatives, we make true decisions, and we - not our neurons or atoms - are the true cause of our willed actions and bear true responsibility for them. IIT's argument for true free will hinges on the proper understanding of consciousness as true existence, as captured by its intrinsic powers ontology: what truly exists, in physical terms, are intrinsic entities, and only what truly exists can cause.

Motivation & Objective

• Motivate a fundamental account of free will grounded in IIT's intrinsic powers ontology.
• Clarify how consciousness as true existence licenses genuine alternatives and responsible willed actions.
• Bridge IIT's theory of consciousness with philosophical claims about causation and moral responsibility.

Proposed method

• Present an intrinsic powers ontology where what truly exists are intrinsic entities.
• Argue that true cause of actions must be intrinsic and exist in physical terms.
• Use IIT framework to connect the structure of cause-effect power with the felt experience of agency.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What does IIT imply about the existence and structure of conscious cause-effect power in the brain?
• RQ2 How does intrinsic existence relate to the capacity to constitute genuine alternatives and responsibility?
• RQ3 Can free will be reconceived as the mind's intrinsic causation rather than external neural determinism?

Key findings

• IIT provides a framework where consciousness is explained by maximal cause-effect power.
• The felt experience of agency aligns with the intrinsic structure of cause-effect power in brain states.
• If IIT is correct, we have true alternatives and true responsibility for willed actions.
• Only intrinsic entities that truly exist can serve as the causes of actions under IIT.
• Consciousness as true existence supports a fundamental kind of free will.