By: Rita Tegon
University of Salamanca, Spain
Abstract:
Literature has historically played a crucial didactic role, particularly through the exploration of the moral dichotomy between good and evil, thus contributing to human moral development. These narratives often seek to depict the moral struggles and choices of individuals, indirectly shaping societal views on morality and responsibility. This paper examines the motivations underpinning acts of evil as depicted in literary works, aiming to grasp how such portrayals explain and influence perceptions of human behavior, responsibility, and the educational potential of literature. By integrating contributions from neuroscience, it explores the extent to which these depictions align with or challenge our understanding of free will and moral agency. Findings indicate that many portrayals of malevolence in literature can be traced to impairments in executive functions and decision-making processes, highlighting a potentially deterministic undercurrent in character actions. This perspective raises questions about traditional views on morality and free will, as it suggests that characters’ choices may lack genuine autonomy. Consequently, this challenges the assumed educational function of literature by positing that such narratives may not reflect true moral agency but rather predetermined cognitive and psychological predispositions. These insights call for a re-evaluation of the role of literature in moral education, as neuroscience increasingly suggests that human agency may be more constrained than previously thought.
Keywords: didactic literature, neuroscience, decision making, free will, executive functioning
To cite as: Tegon, R., 2025, “Free will, guilt, and the illusion of choice: intersections of literature and neuroscience,” PsyArt 29.1, pp. 42-79.