Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Why There’s No Such Thing as Free Will w/ Robert Sapolsky (#395)

Feb 18, 2024

Neuroendocrinology researcher and Stanford University professor, Robert Sapolsky, discusses the illusion of free will, consciousness, determinism, ethics, criminal justice reform, and the neuroscience of decision-making in an engaging and thought-provoking conversation.

01:15:05

Episode guests

Robert Sapolsky

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Quick takeaways

Consciousness is not a prerequisite for free will, focus should be on behavior-shaping factors.

Punishment should prioritize societal protection over retribution, evolving justice perspectives discussed.

Cosmology poses unique challenges with limited observation capabilities, understanding stars in varied environments crucial.

Deep dives

The Illusion of Free Will

Robert Sapolsky explores the concept of free will and argues that it is an illusion. He combines neuroscience, anthropology, quantum physics, chaos theory, and philosophy to support his view.

Understanding the Role of Glutamate Receptors in the Brain

00:57

Recognizing Areas Without Free Will and Responsibility

01:09

Empathy and Expectations

00:41

Introduction

4min

Exploring Panpsychism and Consciousness Emergence

9min

Exploring the Debate on Free Will and Determinism

2min

Exploring Free Will and Determinism

21min

Rethinking Free Will and Accountability

10min

Exploring Punishments and Justice

15min

Exploring Stress and Social Hierarchies in Baboon Societies

11min

Exploring Free Will and Heuristics for Decision Making

3min

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Whether or not there is free will has tortured scientists from many fields since philosophers in ancient Greece started wondering about it.

But for one scientist, there’s no question about it…

Meet neuroendocrinology researcher, bestselling author, and Stanford University professor – Robert Sapolsky! Sapolsky’s journey has led him from studying stress and neuronal degeneration in wild baboons in Kenya to exploring the relationship between schizotypal disorders and the emergence of shamanism and the major Western religions.

But more recently, Sapolsky has plunged into philosophical waters, studying free will, or rather the lack thereof, to come up with A Science of Life Without Free Will.

Today, he’s here to present his case! Tune in.

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:27 How can we understand free will without understanding consciousness?

00:04:30 Panpsychism

00:07:25 Quantum indeterminacy and free will

00:15:17 Do baboons have free will?

00:19:36 Are there levels of determinism?

00:30:46 The neuroscience of free will

00:37:42 Free will, ethics, and a criminal justice reform

00:45:58 Punishment and justice in Judaism

00:54:37 God’s omniscience and free will

01:01:16 What can we learn from baboons?

01:05:26 The most magical discovery

01:08:11 What did Robert change his mind on?

01:10:08 Outro

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