People I (Mostly) Admire 18. Robert Sapolsky: “I Don’t Think We Have Any Free Will Whatsoever.”
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Mar 6, 2021 
Robert Sapolsky, a leading neuroscientist renowned for his research on stress and baboon behavior, dives deep into the intertwining of free will and biology. He reveals why he believes we lack free will and discusses the ethical dilemmas surrounding the value of human versus animal lives. Sapolsky shares poignant stories from his fieldwork in Kenya, shedding light on the social dynamics and health impacts of stress among baboons. He also reflects on his disillusionment with the criminal justice system and the heartbreak of witnessing a tuberculosis outbreak among his subjects.
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From Harvard to the Savannah
- Robert Sapolsky grew up in New York City and graduated from Harvard.
- He then went to Africa to study baboons, despite having limited prior experience with wildlife.
Darting Baboons
- Sapolsky darted baboons with anesthetic to study stress physiology, requiring careful strategy.
- He had to avoid darting stressed baboons and protect darted ones from rivals.
Baboons as Stress Models
- Baboons are good models for human stress because they have ample free time for social conflict.
- Sapolsky aimed to understand how social rank affects health in baboons, mirroring human psychosocial stress.