Neuroscience vs Philosophy: Is free will an illusion?

Gene will be the main host for this topic. Here's his writeup:

Neuroscientists have argued, largely on the basis of the results of a few experiments, that free will is an illusion.

http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110831/full/477023a.html

Sam Harris also argues that free will is an illusion in a very recent book.

http://www.amazon.com/Free-Will-Sam-Harris/dp/1451683405/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339343142&sr=8-1&keywords=free+will
However, some philosophers think that there is a mistake being made here, and that many scientists are confused about the concept of free will.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/is-neuroscience-the-death-of-free-will/

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/what-makes-free-will-free/

I will give an overview of the issue, and discuss the scientific work and the philosophical approach to free will. No preparatory reading is necessary, but the Stanford encyclopedia reading is worthwhile.

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/freewill/

More resources on free will and determinism can be found in this discussion:

https://www.meetup.com/Seattle-Analytic-Philosophy-CLUB/messages/boards/thread/24511652

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/e/a/c/event_128968332.jpeg