Biological Determinism, Free Will and Moral Responsibility

Chris Willmott is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Leicester, UK. Chris’ original research was on the molecular basis of antibiotic resistance, however for more than a decade his principal focus has been on bioethics. Chris has particular interests in bioethics education and in the media depiction of bioethical issues, including both factual and fictional representations. The present work emerges from a desire to distinguish the hope from the hype in regard to the role of genetics and neuroscience in the determination of our behaviour and thereafter our responsibility for any criminal activity.Chris was awarded a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship (Higher Education Academy, 2005) and in 2013 was runner-up in the National Bioscience Tutor of the Year (Society of Biology).

• Preface.- Chapter 1: Free will and determinism.- Chapter 2: Existing legislation on mental disorders and criminal cases.- Chapter 3: Biological Basis of Behaviour.- Chapter 4: Use of genetic and neuroscientific evidence in criminal cases: a brief history of “neurolaw”.- Chapter 5: Are we ready for an expanded use of neuroscientific evidence in the courtroom?.