Neuroscientist: How To Escape The Rat Race | Robert Sapolsky

Dr. Robert Sapolsky, renowned neuroscientist and primatologist, joins Light Watkins, to uncover the science behind stress, the illusion of free will, and what baboons can teach us about human behavior.

00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:39 - From Orthodox Jew to Atheist
00:07:44 - The obsession that shaped Dr. Sapolsky's career
00:11:07 - How stress in baboons reveals secrets about human health
00:20:41 - Why free will is an illusion (shocking truth!)
00:26:18 - What if everything is predetermined? (Society's biggest question)
00:36:13 - Mind-blowing coincidences: do they really exist?
00:48:48 - A new perspective around racism and tribalism
00:52:29 - Why people love to judge
01:16:43 - What baboons teach us about human nature
01:18:38 - How to build a more humane society

[btdtpro]

Like MLK Jr said, “We all too often have socialism for the rich and rugged free market capitalism for the poor.”, but in this case, it's free will for the rich when they have success, but "out of my control" blame a lower down employee when there's a failure., and free will when someone in poverty steals, but ignoring the systems they're struggling in.

[blamtasticful]

People love to criticize this man but man he's like a breath of fresh air to me. Makes me feel like my inner thoughts aren't just completely bonkers.

[dylanclub]

seems like the positive takeaway here is just, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs."

[BramWarrick]

I enjoy Sapolsky interviews and I've watched a number of them. This was an unusually good interview. Research was done, synthesis was good, references to entries in books, and you kept it on topics that just light him up - all without too many interruptions.

Thank you.

[javadhashtroudian]

I came from a liberal Muslim and Marxist family. I never thought about god until I went to England for education and was forced to go to church by my boarding school. By the first hour I spent in the church, I became an atheist. I used to be evangelical about my atheism, but eventually, I realized that I don't care about your theory (philosophy, religion). I only care if someone is compassionate and kind.
I have been thinking about free will for the last twenty years or so. I soon realized that if there was any free will, it was exceptionally limited.
In the last five years, I accepted that there is no free will and that my ego is a social construct. Some people claim that if we knew there is no free will we will do evil things. In my case, suffering diminished and I became more compassionate and kind which I received from liberal Islam and Marxism.

[frankG]

Wow. What he said about mammals "liking " to punish or get revenge was pretty profound.

The fact that it literally causes a dopamine hit is pretty enlightening.

[Mrliftalee]

The problem with escaping the rat race is that you’re still a rat — Lilly Tomlin

[apropo]

Mr. Watkins, I really like your interview with Robert Sapolsky. From your insightful queries to your ability to allow the interviewee to fully express his thoughts, your style of interview was fruitful. Thank you, and "Please, sir, may I have some more please?"

[crystalwest]

I've watched his whole Stanford class and read the primatology book and yet I still am astounded by this man. I will watch every interview. I guess I'm an involuntary superfan or something. This professor's mind is perfect edutainment for me. Bravo - He is my favorite contemporary intellectual. Also he's totally hot, and its not my fault for thinking this because i have no free will. Its just biology.

[SharperPenImageConsulting]

I love Sapolsky, and I love it when an intelligent and thoughtful American breaks through our anti-intellectual culture to obtain any kind of success.

[camilozs]

This is one of the best interviews with Robert Sapolsky I have seen. You asked the key questions and details nobody asks him. Thanks

[davisoneill]

It's easier to escape Capitalism when you're a tenured professor.

[mattcarlson]

Like I've often said to myself (because no one ever listen to me), you live half your life learning stuff, and then the next half un-learning that stuff from the first half....

[lavayullie]

For at least 3 hours after tapping, meditation, and journaling I get a sense of free will but before all of that I get a sense of being on Autopilot.

[pratcus]

Fantastic interview.The interviewer was as serene as Prof.Saplosky
and we who watched the interview truly benefitted out of that mutual respect. I bought the book yesterday and really want to go deep into that.
I have a question for Prof.Saplosky.
I have recovered(recovering) from alcohol addiction and sober for the past 21 years by the grace of God and the fellowship of AA based on the famous 12 step program. The prayer we have at the meetings is
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
What here being advocated by the author more or less similar to that except the word God or a Higher Power to keep one's sanity amidst the chaos of our evolutionary limitation of free will and the man made miseries we are caught up in.
AA's primary thrust on living one day at a time.
How such a fellowship formed in 1935 and have meetings going on every part of the globe helping insane alcoholics to lead a better life by removing one's character defects through the 12 step program really works for those who want to recover . It's not a cult or any other indoctrination or debate on other matter such as religion or one's place in society except only things confined to one's sobriety . It has no membership or fees and still remains simple as when it was founded.
I hope that Dr.Saplosky does also maintain a view that there's a small light at the end of the tunnel of human existence and humanity's survival throughout evolution over the years ever since the human brain attained the prefrontal cortex.
I wish both of you all success in your life ahead.

[jedics]

Trying to be somebody only ever brought me misery, all of that just went away when I focused on free time over money, now Im money poor and time rich instead of having neither...A VAST improvement.
Our system has none of the answers to important questions in life unless it involves money making it meaningless to me, I have the basic comforts and do not aspire to more.

[carmenmccauley]

Life has no point but every moment has meaning. I knew this at 8. Now 71. It has never depressed me. Atheist raised by catholics. IQ 148. I enjoy your lectures.

[playlien]

As a Taoist, I find the revelation of no free will wildly liberating. It's the way the moment of awakening is described in buddhist meditation - you are free the moment you realize you can't escape the trap, and so that means you don't have to. But knowing this, it's easier to forgive the past and this knowledge may potentially unlock the acceptance to break free of psychological loops.

[ricklines]

Coincidences...

When my wife became schizophrenic her sense of causality went completely haywire. She saw a person named Kimberly and a person named Clark together interacting with her and concluded that the Kimberly-Clark company was spying on her. For example.

[jtmacri]

Been feeling very down lately. Watched this. Still feel very down. I do feel less alone though because at least everyone’s going through it.