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Choices by organisms: on the role of freedom in behaviour and evolution


 Neo-Darwinian biology has demonstrated that it is possible to construct a theory of life that excludes the role of organisms’ free choice. In a richer theory, the latter as a possibility needs to be taken into account. For that purpose, it is necessary to introduce the biological concept of choice, analyse its structure and roles, and consider some implications for biological theory. It is argued here that the conditions for free choice emerge together with umwelt—the space of synchronous options. Basically, choice does not require purpose. This leads to the conclusion that freedom is an attribute of life.