Robert Sapolsky, a renowned professor of biology and author, joins the discussion on the contentious notion of free will. They dive deep into the scientific and philosophical underpinnings of our beliefs about agency. Topics include the influence of epigenetics on behavior, the emergence of complex emotions from basic interactions, and the ethical implications of determinism in criminal justice. The conversation challenges listeners to reconsider assumptions about personal responsibility and the neurological basis of morality.
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insights INSIGHT
Free Will: A Conceptual Issue
Many doubt free will's existence, not just its coherence.
Compatibilists like Dan Dennett change the subject, not addressing the core issue.
insights INSIGHT
Free Will: Intuition vs. Determinism
The most common argument for free will is based on pure intuition, how it feels.
This intuitive feeling persists despite understanding the deterministic nature of neurons.
insights INSIGHT
Free Will's Social Implications
Dan Dennett argues it is socially dangerous to question free will.
He also claims people want to be held responsible, even punished, for their actions.
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In 'A Primate's Memoir', Robert M. Sapolsky recounts his years spent studying a troop of baboons in Kenya. The book combines scientific observations of the baboons' social behaviors, stress levels, and health with personal anecdotes about Sapolsky's cultural awakening and adventures in Africa. Sapolsky describes his interactions with the local Masai tribe, his experiences during political unrest, and the emotional impact of a tuberculosis outbreak among the baboons. The book is a blend of humor, science, and personal growth, offering insights into both primate society and human culture[1][2][4].
Behave
The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst
Robert Sapolsky
In this book, Sapolsky delves into the complex interplay of biological processes, including neuroscience, genetics, and hormones, to explain why humans behave in various ways. He examines behavior on multiple time scales, from the immediate neural responses to actions that occur over centuries and millennia. The book addresses topics such as tribalism, xenophobia, hierarchy, competition, morality, and free will, providing a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of human behavior. Sapolsky's approach integrates cutting-edge research across several disciplines to offer insights into the biological basis of human actions, both good and bad.
Sam Harris speaks with Robert Sapolsky about the widespread belief in free will. They discuss the limits of intuition, the views of Dan Dennett, complexity and emergence, downward causation, abstraction, epigenetics, predictability, fatalism, Benjamin Libet, the primacy of luck, historical change in attitudes about free will, implications for ethics and criminal justice, the psychological satisfaction of punishing bad people, understanding evil, punishment and reward as tools, meritocracy, the consequences of physical beauty, the logic of reasoning, and other topics.
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Learning how to train your mind is the single greatest investment you can make in life. That’s why Sam Harris created the Waking Up app. From rational mindfulness practice to lessons on some of life’s most important topics, join Sam as he demystifies the practice of meditation and explores the theory behind it.
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