The Science behind the Book

"From the dawn of civilisation, men took the existence of free will pretty much for granted – holding others and themselves responsible for their actions – with occasional fierce debates about the extent of that freedom."

With the meteoric rise of Artificial Intelligence, understanding the true nature of our minds, our choices, and what it means to be human has never been more crucial. Although many leading scientists—including Darwin, Einstein, and Hawking—embrace the idea that humans are sentient automatons, this concept feels far-fetched if not utterly absurd, based on our everyday experiences. Most of us assume we are the authors of our own choices, fully in control of our decisions and destiny. But what if that sense of control is nothing more than an illusion?

"…the notion of personal freedom or agency, the ability to act independently and to make free choices, is one of the most fundamental assumptions behind human civilisation. The implications are huge, and far from theoretical. They affect moral responsibility, praise and blame, law and punishment, even emotions like pride, shame and guilt. If you think about it, the rule of law and all religions are based on personal responsibility. The definite answer to this key question would affect almost every aspect of life."

Yet, this age-old question is far too complex and weighty to be resolved by intuition alone—or even by the opinion of a brilliant scientist or philosopher. To have any chance of unravelling it, a fresh, rigorous approach is needed.

"We’re now fortunate enough to live in an era – one that’s only a few decades old – in which science can provide the necessary tools and knowledge to examine this fundamental question thoroughly. Rather than just arguing about it, for the first time in the history of humankind, we can tackle this mystery right here in this room and discover the true level of freedom we actually have. For this purpose, we’ve assembled an interdisciplinary team of distinguished world experts from all the relevant fields – neuroscience, cognitive psychology, philosophy, physics and law – as well as the most powerful AI available to date. …the entire knowledge of humanity is at the tips of your fingers. All the necessary ingredients are right here. This may very well mean a breakthrough of historical proportions, one that means we understand our true nature."

In the quest to understand the human mind and the nature of our choices, this book explores the latest—and often surprising—scientific discoveries in cognitive psychology and neuroscience, from priming to brain imaging and beyond. At the same time, it examines the profound ethical implications for individuals, society, and the legal system. All of this unfolds within a gripping thriller, narrated primarily through the eyes of George, a theoretical physicist grappling with personal tragedy.

So, is this work fiction or non-fiction? Well, it’s both, but with a clear distinction. Every research study mentioned is real and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Most of the rest is purely fictional, crafted to bring these discoveries to life and entertain. While no prior scientific knowledge is required, a list of relevant references is provided for those eager to dive deeper.

Excerpts in italics from Chapter 4 - The Unthinkable Truth.