Free Will And Responsibility | Amna Whiston v Matthew Su hosted by Sam McKee

Unbelievable?

Premier Unbelievable?

Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.7 • 2.4K Ratings

🗓️ 19 February 2026

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Recorded at Aylesbury High School, Sam McKee hosts a lively Unbelievable? Podcast schools debate on one of life’s biggest questions: are we really free? Cambridge PhD researcher Matthew Su and Oxford philosopher of mind Amna Whiston go head-to-head on libertarian free will, determinism, and compatibilism and why it matters for moral responsibility, justice, and everyday choices. Can hunger, habit, upbringing, or neuroscience quietly steer our decisions? Are we “puppets” of biology, or genuinely authors of our actions? The conversation ranges from courtroom judgment and temptation to mental health, personhood, and whether AI and “philosophical zombies” help or hinder the case for human agency. Expect sharp definitions, real-world examples, and brilliant student questions starting @33:34 mins in. SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/unbelievablefe Facebook: / https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Instagram: / https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: / https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable 👉 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes—absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 🎉📢 • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

Transcript

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0:00.0	My dad died when I was nine years old and it broke something in me.
0:05.0	I spent lots of times homeless, causing even bigger rifts in the family.
0:10.0	I was out of control.
0:12.0	Green Pastures is a Christian charity providing homes and support for people facing homelessness across the UK.
0:20.0	As soon as I walked in that place,
0:21.6	I knew there was something different about it.
0:23.6	Through Green Pastures,
0:25.6	Andy found a home,
0:26.6	freedom from addiction,
0:28.6	and a new beginning in faith.
0:30.6	It's the best thing I've ever done.
0:31.6	It released me from that 23 years of addiction.
0:35.6	And now I'm senior support worker here at Green Pastures Derby.
0:39.8	Find out more at greenpastures.com.
0:46.6	Hi, it's Gavin.
0:47.8	I'm Phil.
0:48.6	I don't know about you, but it can sometimes feel like we're living in a bad news world.
0:52.2	Wars, scandals, crisis after crisis. But if you're ready
0:55.9	to change the soundtrack and hear what God is really doing, we have a brand new podcast just for you.
1:00.9	We're travelling the UK, seeing people come to faith, churches grow and new life break out.
1:05.9	With real stories, fresh research and inspiring leaders, we are ready to give you a front row
1:10.7	seats to God on the move.
	...

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