Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha

Robert Sapolsky: Free Will Doesn’t Exist! Leading Neuroscientist Claims ALL Behavior Is Biologically Determined | E262

Dec 18, 2023

Neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky discusses the non-existence of free will, the neuroscience of decision-making, myth of grit, predetermination's impact on entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos, and why we need to overhaul the criminal justice system.

01:18:51

Episode guests

Robert Sapolsky

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Our actions are predetermined by biology and environment, challenging the belief in free will.

Understanding the lack of free will encourages empathy and discourages judgment towards those facing challenges.

Sensory experiences like odor and physiological states like hunger can significantly impact our judgment and decision-making abilities.

Deep dives

The Controversy of Free Will

Dr. Robert Sapolsky discusses his stance on free will, asserting that it does not exist and that our actions are predetermined by biology and environment. This view is seen as controversial and goes against the commonly held belief in free will.

Introduction

2min

Challenging the Existence of Free Will

2min

The Controversial Nature of Free Will

21min

Trusting your gut and leveraging creativity as an entrepreneur

6min

Biological Determinism and Human Behavior

19min

Biological Determinants and Empathy

8min

The Evolution of Moral Disgust

21min

Does Free Will Really Exist? Exploring the Biologically Determined Nature of Behavior

4min

Dr. Robert Sapolsky has accomplished so much in his life and career, including winning the MacArthur “genius” grant and authoring several best-selling books. But as he puts it himself in his most recent book: “I’ve been very lucky in my life, something which I certainly did not earn.” This sentiment is consistent with his view that we lack free will entirely, and in today’s episode, Professor Sapolsky is going to make his argument to Hala as to why that is indeed the case.

Robert Sapolsky is a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University, who is an expert in several fields ranging from stress to baboon behavior to human evolution. His work has received many awards including the esteemed MacArthur Fellowship. He is also the best-selling author of several books including Behave, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, and The Trouble with Testosterone. His newest book is called Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will.

In this episode, Hala and Robert will discuss:

- Why free will doesn’t exist

- The epiphany he had as a 14-year-old

- Is meritocracy an illusion?

- The neuroscience of decision-making

- The myth of grit

- What predetermination means for entrepreneurs

- Why Jeff Bezos was born to create Amazon

- Does spontaneity exist?

- How no free will impacts our morality

- The science behind moral disgust

- Why you can’t reason someone out of an opinion

- Why we should overhaul the criminal justice system

- And other topics…

Robert Sapolsky is a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. Over the past thirty years, he has divided his time between the lab, where he studies how stress hormones can damage the brain, and in East Africa, where he studies the impact of chronic stress on the health of baboons. Sapolsky is the author of Behave, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, A Primate's Memoir, and The Trouble with Testosterone, and is a regular contributor to Discover. He has published articles about stress and health in magazines as diverse as Men's Health and The New Yorker. Sapolsky received the MacArthur Foundation's “genius” grant at age 30.

Resources Mentioned:

Robert’s Website: http://www.robertsapolskyrocks.com/

Robert’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertsapolsky/

Robert’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Robert-Sapolsky/100063871383510/

Robert’s new book Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will (2023): https://www.amazon.com/Determined-Science-Life-without-Free/dp/B0BVNSX4CQ/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1699016118&refinements=p_27%3ARobert+Sapolsky&s=books&sr=1-1

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