Today we welcome Robert Sapolsky to the podcast. Robert is professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. His research has been featured in the National Geographic documentary "Stress: Portrait of a Killer". At age 30, Robert received the MacArthur Foundation's "genius" grant. He is author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers, A Primate's Memoir, The Trouble with Testosterone and Monkeyluv. His latest book is called Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will.
In this episode, I talk to Robert Sapolsky about life without free will. Humans like the idea of having control over their lives, but Robert asserts that free will is just an illusion. Life beyond free will may sound unpleasant, but Robert explains the profound consequences of this belief in reforming the justice system, meritocracy, and education. We also touch on the topics of philosophy, quantum physics, mindfulness, grit, and responsibility.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robertsapolsky/
Topics
02:38 Robert’s background and upbringing
05:43 Life without free will
13:16 Believing in free will
24:05 Responsibility and punishment
33:14 The future cannot be determined
43:45 Mindfulness - a form of free will?
48:37 The human experience
53:41 Abolish the justice system and meritocracy
1:04:03 Statistical guilt
1:07:21 Effort, grit and taking credit
1:16:40 Nobody is more “worthy”
1:23:29 Life is worth living
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Steven Pinker || Why Rationality Matters
Annie Murphy Paul || The Extended Mind
Kathryn Paige Harden || Genetic Inequality, IQ, and Education
Nick Gillespie || Libertarianism, Soft Parenting, and Cancel Culture
Richard Ryan || Self-Determination Theory & Human Motivation
Ron Friedman || Reverse Engineering Greatness
Brad Stulberg || Finding Groundedness
Irvin Yalom || Existential Psychotherapy
Heather McGhee || What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together
Gary Heil || Choose Love, Not Fear in the Workplace
Jon Levy || The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence
Gleb Tsipursky || Cognitive Bias in Relationships
Michael Lewis || A Doctor Shares Life Lessons From His Experiences with Michael Jordan and Abraham Maslow
Colin DeYoung || Rethinking Mental Illness
Jordan Peterson || Chatting About Human Nature
Paul Wong || Existential Positive Psychology
Kristin Neff || Fierce Self-Compassion
Daniel Goleman || Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence
Dean Simonton || The Science of Genius
Robert Sternberg || Adaptive Intelligence
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Poetry of Science
Behavioral Grooves Podcast
Hidden Brain
Something You Should Know
The Science of Happiness