Robert Sapolsky on Free Will, Determinism and Human Behavior

Key Points

Freest from Genetic Influences: Unlike other brain parts, the frontal cortex is highly influenced by the environment and experiences up to 25 years after birth.
Environment Over Genes: Evolved to be more sculpted by the environment rather than strict genetic determinism.

No Free Will: Sapolsky argues that what we perceive as free will is an illusion. Our behaviors, choices, and actions are determined by biology and environment.
Previous Works: Published "Behave" in 2017 to explain human behavior, but it led to responses suggesting subtle influences on free will, prompting him to write "Determined" to clearly argue against the existence of free will.
Experiences Matter: Behaviors are influenced by everything from immediate stimuli to lifelong experiences.

Multiple Influences: Actions are a result of numerous factors including immediate environment, hormonal levels, life experiences, and even ancestral cultural practices.
Phineas Gage: An example illustrating how damage to the frontal cortex can drastically alter behavior.
Judges and Parole Decisions: Parole decisions are influenced by something as mundane as the time since a judge last ate.

Immediate Factors: Hunger, fatigue, stress, and surroundings affect decision-making in real-time.
Long-term Factors: Hormonal levels, childhood experiences, and even fetal brain development play roles in shaping behavior.
Contextual Influences: Societal norms, traditions, and ancestral practices continue to influence individuals.
Extended Example: Cultural influences on child-rearing practices demonstrate how societal norms are passed down and integrated into behavior.

Teaching Reflection: Encourage people to repeatedly question their actions and judgments, fostering self-awareness and empathy.
No Blame Culture: Emphasize understanding over punishment or praise as actions are products of circumstances beyond one's control.

Quarantine Model: For dangerous individuals, advocate for a quarantine-like approach focused on safety rather than moral punishment.
Meritocracy vs. Criminal Justice: Both are problematic; protect society from incompetence and danger but avoid creating a system that overemphasizes individual merit or blame.