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Postscript

A Future without Free Will – Hope, Humanity, and Human Flourishing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2026

Gregg D. Caruso
Affiliation:
Fairfield University, Connecticut
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Summary

This Postscript synthesizes the book’s central claim: that abandoning belief in free will and basic desert moral responsibility does not lead to nihilism or despair, but instead paves the way for a more humane, compassionate, and just society. Rather than seeing ourselves as autonomous agents wholly responsible for our successes and failures, free will skepticism encourages us to recognize the deep causal influences – biological, social, and environmental – that shape human behavior. This recognition invites not fatalism, but moral clarity: a shift from blame to understanding, from retribution to rehabilitation, and from judgment to empathy. The Postscript highlights the real-world implications of this paradigm shift, especially in areas such as criminal justice, where punitive attitudes can be replaced with restorative, forward-looking models that aim to reduce harm and promote healing. It also discusses interpersonal relationships, arguing that viewing others through the lens of compassion and causal understanding can foster forgiveness and reduce moral anger. Ultimately, the Postscript reaffirms the book’s hopeful message: that living without free will allows us to embrace a deeper ethics – one rooted in fairness, humility, and solidarity – and that such a shift can enhance both individual well-being and collective flourishing.

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  • Postscript
  • Gregg D. Caruso, Fairfield University, Connecticut
  • Book: How to Live Well without Free Will
  • Online publication: 31 July 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009553261.010
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  • Postscript
  • Gregg D. Caruso, Fairfield University, Connecticut
  • Book: How to Live Well without Free Will
  • Online publication: 31 July 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009553261.010
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Postscript
  • Gregg D. Caruso, Fairfield University, Connecticut
  • Book: How to Live Well without Free Will
  • Online publication: 31 July 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009553261.010
Available formats
×