You have no free will at all | Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky
In the video titled “You have no free will at all” by Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky, you delve into the idea that our decisions and behaviors are shaped by a complex interplay of biology and environment rather than individual free will. Sapolsky, a distinguished professor at Stanford University with expertise in biology, neurology, and neurosurgery, argues that our frontal cortex, the part of our brain responsible for decision-making, is influenced by environmental determinism rather than genetic determinism. This leads Sapolsky to the conclusion that free will is actually an illusion rather than a reality.
Throughout the interview, Sapolsky discusses the implications of this concept for humanity, challenging traditional notions of responsibility, blame, praise, and punishment. He explores how different factors such as cultural upbringing, genetic predispositions, and environmental influences all play a role in shaping our behaviors and decisions. By understanding the distributed causality behind human actions, Sapolsky suggests that we can adopt a more empathetic and nuanced approach to understanding human behavior.
Ultimately, Sapolsky advocates for a shift in perspective, where society moves away from blame and punishment towards a more compassionate and understanding approach to behavior. While free will may not exist in the traditional sense, Sapolsky argues that by recognizing and appreciating the factors that shape our decisions, we can make more thoughtful and informed choices that benefit both individuals and society as a whole.
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Video Transcript
Author Video Description
How your biology and environment make your decisions for you, according to Dr. Robert Sapolsky.
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Robert Sapolsky, PhD is an author, researcher, and professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford University. In this interview with Big Think’s Editor-in-Chief, Robert Chapman Smith, Sapolsky discusses the content of his most recent book, “Determined: The Science of Life Without Free Will.”
Being held as a child, growing up in a collectivist culture, or experiencing any sort of brain trauma – among hundreds of other things – can shape your internal biases and ultimately influence the decisions you make. This, explains Sapolsky, means that free will is not – and never has been – real. Even physiological factors like hunger can discreetly influence decision making, as discovered in a study that found judges were more likely to grant parole after they had eaten.
This insight is key for interpreting human behavior, helping not only scientists but those who aim to evolve education systems, mental health research, and even policy making.
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About Robert Sapolsky:
Robert M. Sapolsky holds degrees from Harvard and Rockefeller Universities and is currently a Professor of Biology and Neurology at Stanford University and a Research Associate with the Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya. His books include New York Times bestseller, Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst and Determined.
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Video “You have no free will at all | Stanford professor Robert Sapolsky” was uploaded on 05/10/2024 to Youtube Channel Big Think