Factually! with Adam Conover Free Will Does Not Exist with Robert Sapolsky
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Jan 31, 2024 
Robert Sapolsky, a neurologist from Stanford University, joins Adam Conover on this episode to discuss the illusion of free will. Sapolsky believes that our choices and behaviors are influenced by factors such as genetics, environment, and culture, dismissing the idea of agency. They explore the social and ethical consequences of this belief, including implications for criminal justice reform. The podcast also touches on the impact of socioeconomic status on brain development. Sapolsky's book, 'Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will,' is recommended.
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Intent Is The End Of A Causal Chain
- Robert Sapolsky argues intentions are the end result of a long causal history rather than the starting point for agency.
- Asking where an intent came from reveals layers of biology and environment that preclude free will.
Decisions Are A Continuous Biological Arc
- Sapolsky describes decision-making as a continuous arc of biology interacting with environment across time scales.
- Genes, hormones, childhood, culture and evolution together determine what a brain will do at any moment.
Merit And Punishment Lose Moral Ground
- If nobody deserves their outcomes because everything is determined, moral praise and blame lose their grounding.
- Sapolsky argues meritocracies and punitive systems become unjust under determinism.