Abstract

This paper argues that free will emerges from deterministic yet chaotic neural processes, allowing for practically unpredictable and functionally autonomous decisions. Drawing on chaos theory, neuroscience, and cognitive science, we propose a novel compatibilist framework where free will is an emergent property of self-organizing, nonlinear systems rather than mere unpredictability. This approach reconciles determinism with autonomy, demonstrating that chaotic attractors in neural networks create structured yet flexible decision patterns. We explore moral responsibility, legal accountability, and artificial intelligence applications, suggesting that chaotic free will preserves agency within a deterministic structure. Finally, we propose empirical methods-such as neural complexity analysis and moral decision variability testing-to test this theory. This perspective advances both philosophical and scientific debates, positioning free will as a real, emergent cognitive phenomenon.