Kirilov Solution, The

Synopsis: The film explores the concepts of determinism and free will, the implications of the problem of free will for moral responsibility, and some attempts to solve this problem. Uses a fictional minimalist lab in the ‘Institute for Ideological Research’ supposedly based in Europe which adheres to the determinism view and tries to ‘cure’ a young man of his conviction that he has free will. A business traveller is induced into infiltrating a sinister philosophical cult, who teach a kind of scientific fatalism: their stated aim is to "cure students of the illusion of free will" - but to what end? To escape the cult this man must refute their theory and prove his own free will - but he is forced to confront the fact that the choices he has made seem entirely predictable too. The leaders of the cult regard those who cannot accept their doctrine as insane, but there are rumours within the cult of a way out: the Kirilov Solution.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Year of release: 2006
Notes: Also available in NTSC format
Subjects: Philosophy
Keywords: determinism; existentialism; free will

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British Universities Film & Video Council