Can magic tricks prove that you lack free will?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Scientist and illusionist Alice Pailhès uses magic to demonstrate how the brain works and how easily our choices can be subtly influenced.

Through performance, Alice Pailhès explores the intersection of cognitive science and illusion to examine the nature of human agency. By observing how magic tricks can manipulate perception, we gain insight into how the brain processes information and whether our daily decisions are truly under our control.

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