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The cover of Determined

Determined

Robert M. Sapolsky

Sapolsky argues every act traces back through neurons, hormones, childhood, genes and culture to luck we never controlled, then asks what blame, punishment and meaning look like without free will.

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16 parts, about 31 minutes to read.

Why read it

  • See how Sapolsky traces any act back through neurons, hormones, childhood, genes, culture and evolution, to luck no one chose
  • Follow his replies to Libet's brain studies and to arguments for free will from chaos, emergence and quantum randomness
  • Learn why he thinks retribution loses its footing without free will, and how epilepsy, schizophrenia and Norway show blame can fade

Who it is for

  • Readers curious whether neuroscience undermines free will
  • Anyone weighing how blame and punishment hold up without free will
  • Philosophy and psychology students meeting the compatibilist debate

What the summary covers

  1. Turtles All the Way Down2 min
  2. The Final Three Minutes of a Movie2 min
  3. Where Does Intent Come From?2 min
  4. Willing Willpower: The Myth of Grit2 min
  5. A Primer on Chaos1 min
  6. Is Your Free Will Chaotic?2 min
  7. A Primer on Emergent Complexity2 min
  8. Does Your Free Will Just Emerge?2 min
  9. A Primer on Quantum Indeterminacy1 min
  10. Is Your Free Will Random?2 min
  11. Interlude1 min
  12. Will We Run Amok?2 min
  13. The Ancient Gears within Us: How Does Change Happen?2 min
  14. We Really Have Done This Before3 min
  15. The Joy of Punishment3 min
  16. If You Die Poor2 min

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