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Contributions of Science of Free Will to Neuroecocnomics and Quantum Decision Theory

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A Genealogy of Self-Interest in Economics

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Abstract

Although thinkers in political science and philosophy such as Thomas Hobbes, John Stuart Mill and Robert Nozick argued that an understanding of “free will” is crucial in considering problems related to democracy and other political institutions, recent advances in the scientific exploration of free will (often associated with rationality and consciousness) in neurobiology, neuroeconomics, and quantum decision theory have largely been ignored in political science. This is also true in recently-developed bio-psychologically-inspired approaches in political science (e.g., political psychology based on evolutionary psychology). In this conceptual review article, we first introduce current findings on the science of free will and then discuss potential implications of these findings for future research in political science. The importance of investigations into future-oriented judgment and decision making (e.g., intertemporal choice) is emphasized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Science, Center for Experimental Research in Social Sciences, Research and Education Center for Brain Science, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan

    Taiki Takahashi

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  1. Taiki Takahashi
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Correspondence to Taiki Takahashi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, Otaru University of Commerce, Otaru-shi, Hokkaido, Japan

    Susumu Egashira

  2. Faculty of Economics, Toyo University, Tokyo, Japan

    Masanori Taishido

  3. Department of Economics, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, USA

    D. Wade Hands

  4. Political and Economic Studies, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Uskali Mäki

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Takahashi, T. (2021). Contributions of Science of Free Will to Neuroecocnomics and Quantum Decision Theory. In: Egashira, S., Taishido, M., Hands, D.W., Mäki, U. (eds) A Genealogy of Self-Interest in Economics. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9395-6_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9395-6_13

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