Author: Brooks Bryant
Narrator: Willis Merz
Unabridged: 0 hr 19 min
Format: Digital Audiobook
Publisher: Findaway Voices
Published: 12/05/2023
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT THE OFFICIAL BOOK.
This is a summary, and it does not accompany the official
'Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will' by Robert M. Sapolsky is a profound exploration of the concept of free will in human behavior. Building on his previous work in "Behave," which delved into the reasons behind good and bad human actions, Sapolsky advances the idea that the nature-nurture interplay significantly dictates our behavior, challenging the notion of a distinct self that controls our biology.
The book synthesizes a current understanding of consciousness, blending aspects of reason, emotion, and responses to stimuli across one's lifetime. Sapolsky methodically debunks major free will arguments, traversing through chaos and complexity science, quantum physics, and philosophical concepts. He illustrates how historical medical perspectives, like viewing seizures as demonic possession, have evolved to a more understanding stance that reduces personal blame.
Sapolsky also examines the implications of life without free will in the realms of punishment, morality, and societal living. Contrary to fears of anarchy and existential despair, he argues that acknowledging the absence of free will could lead to a more compassionate and humane world where judgment and self-criticism are less prevalent. 'Determined' presents a challenging yet enlightening perspective on human behavior, urging a reevaluation of how we perceive actions and responsibility.
For going on two decades, Scientific American’s “Ask the Experts” column has been answering reader questions on all fields of science. We’ve taken your questions from the basic to the esoteric and reached out to top scientist...
The fundamentals of biology beam its searchlight on all the basic principles contained in various aspects of life sciences, like recombinant DNA, genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry. Via the in-depth study of these principles, humans can ad...
Astrobiology is an exciting new subject, and one, arguably, more interdisciplinary than any other. Astrobiologists seek to understand the origin and evolution of life on Earth in order to illuminate and guide the search for life on other planets. In...
Our sense of smell—or olfaction as it is technically known—is our most enigmatic sense. It can conjure up memories, taking us back to very specific places and emotions, whilst powerful smells can induce strong feelings of hunger or nause...
The Soul of the White Ant by Eugene Marais is a passionate, insightful account into the world of termites. It is a meticulously researched expose of their complex, highly structured community life.Originally translated into English in 1937, the...
Lewis Thomass fascinating observations of the quirkiness of the worlds lifeforms cause the listener to ponder simultaneously a tiny organism and the workings of the cosmos. In one chapter he examines the medusa jellyfish and a sea slug, mutually par...
Microbiology, along with mathematics, chemistry, and physics, is one of the fundamental branches of basic sciences. The knowledge and detailed study of microorganisms and their functions can establish its use in a variety of applications, from medic...
Systems biology came about as growing numbers of engineers and scientists from other fields created algorithms which supported the analysis of biological data in incredible quantities. Whereas biologists of the past had been forced to study one item...
Sex- it's not just for humans! Dive into this wacky but scientific exploration of all things sex. Get answers to all of the random questions you might never have thought to ask yourself: • How did dinosaurs have sex millions of years ago? &bull...