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Neurology professor Robert Sapolsky challenges the concept of free will, exploring the illusion and its impact on society, morality, and the criminal justice system. They discuss determinism, behavior shaping, and the nonsensical nature of congratulating achievements. They also address objections to scrapping belief in free will and discuss Sapolsky's book Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will.
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- Our subjective experience of having control over our thoughts and actions is not supported by scientific understanding of the brain, as our behaviors and decisions are influenced by biological, genetic, and environmental factors over which we have no control.
- The definition of free will is challenged, as it is argued that factors such as intention, understanding of outcomes, and awareness of alternatives do not address why a person intends something or why they have particular desires or preferences.
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Free Will as an Illusion
The podcast explores the concept of free will as an illusion. The guest, Robert Sapolsky, argues that our subjective experience of having control over our thoughts and actions is not supported by scientific understanding of the brain. He explains that our behaviors and decisions are influenced by a complex web of biological, genetic, and environmental factors, over which we have no control. Sapolsky highlights that our beliefs about free will have significant moral and legal implications, and suggests that our treatment of others should be based on a more nuanced understanding of the determinants of behavior.
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