The Social and Ethical Consequences of the Argument about Free Will

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This chapter explores the social and ethical implications of the debate surrounding free will. It discusses different definitions of free will, including the perspective of compatibilists, and delves into edge cases where free will may be lacking. The chapter concludes with a controversial proposed definition of free will.

Does free will truly exist, or are we merely sophisticated meat machines running our biochemical programming with sentience as a byproduct? Stanford University neurologist Robert Sapolsky, having extensively studied the topic, asserts that not only is free will a myth but also that our insistence on its reality adversely affects the world we inhabit. In this episode, Adam speaks with Dr. Sapolsky about how choice is an illusion and the impact this has on our society, from workplace meritocracies to criminal justice reform. Find Dr. Sapolsky's book, Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will, at factuallypod.com/books

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