Free Will, Morality, Self Awareness | Robert Sapolsky

Robert Sapolsky joins Curt Jaimungal to discuss some of the most important topics of our time. Topics discussed include morality, free will, the justice system, intuition, and chaos theory.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Studying Primates
06:08 - Having A Choice
14:00 - Alternative Views of Free Will
19:48 - Morality
25:34 - Responsibility
31:09 - Evidence For Robert’s Views
41:27 - Objections to Robert’s Views
52:48 - Morality
59:25 - Self Awareness
01:07:08 - Readiness Potential
01:13:53 - Daniel Dennett
01:21:33 - Rapid Q&A
01:30:25 - What Robert Is Most Proud Of
01:35:04 - Outro

NOTE: The perspectives expressed by guests don't necessarily mirror my own. There's a versicolored arrangement of people on TOE, each harboring distinct viewpoints, as part of my endeavor to understand the perspectives that exist.

THANK YOU: To Mike Duffey for your insight, help, and recommendations on this channel.

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LINKS MENTIONED:

[TheoriesofEverything]

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Studying Primates
06:08 - Having A Choice
14:00 - Alternative Views of Free Will
19:48 - Morality
25:34 - Responsibility
31:09 - Evidence For Robert’s Views
41:27 - Objections to Robert’s Views
52:48 - Morality
59:25 - Self Awareness
01:07:08 - Readiness Potential
01:13:53 - Daniel Dennett
01:21:33 - Rapid Q&A
01:30:25 - What Robert Is Most Proud Of
01:35:04 - Outro

[lonolo]

I could listen to professor Sapolsky for days. What a beautiful mind

[billyranger]

Knowledge leads to compassion and forgiveness. Objectively. I love it. More

[jpann]

The bottom line is what you hit on at the end, asking RS what he is most proud of, it gets to the heart of what most of us would like to do - make the world a better place. You do your part by having people like Sapolsky on your podcast. Sapolsky is doing this, by promoting a concept that will eventually make us judge others less and do a better job with social justice in helping others in almost every field of endeavor. Bravo!

[jeremylantrip]

I’ve watched interviews with him countless times, and this was the best. Way to go Curt!!

[pathwithin]

This idea has been in Buddhism for yonks, it is completely true. And whether you believe it to be true or not makes no difference. Except for the reduction of suffering, blame, guilt, and attachment to egoism, so give what he is saying a chance ❤

[Phosphene_Dram]

Love Sapolsky! I’ve watched all his lectures on YT, many more than once.

[shyuhway]

Curt is actually the shit. I fkn love these interviews so much lol. He's so good at putting up resistance and asking interesting questions about the various concepts discussed.

[chrisn.]

Always nice when someone held in such high esteem by so many… acknowledges appreciation of getting pushback & having an engaging discussion. To not see it as an attack or an insult, but to see it for what it is - an enjoyable, useful, intellectual discussion.

It is always incredibly refreshing to listen to discussions/interviews where both parties are honest & making good faith arguments. It shouldn’t be such a rarity but, unfortunately, (as we all know) algorithms/profit/ego have provided us with endless disingenuous, bad-faith, conflict/attack-focused media. One of the many, many reasons why ToE is such a gem of a channel, and has such a good community. Take care & be well everyone.

[jamesks]

In all levels of society, it's interesting the position so many humans take that they are the oracles of truth, that they have it all figured out, that there perception is reality absolute and that not even an ounce of humility or any other possibility can be considered, no further questions need to be asked or entertained as they state cemented opinion after cemented opinion rapid fire. In all conversations I witness or participate in, I rarely ever hear others ask sincere questions; "conversation" is just the opportunity to aggressively assert their cemented opinions as one who is the source, center and gravity of all that is with egos firing at each other how "daft" the other is.

[arlinegeorge]

Thank you beautiful conversation. Love and peace to all

[andrewdavis]

If you define free will as the ability of an individual to do whatever they think and feel to do at any moment, then you have a definition of free will which is accurate and compatible with both hard determinists and compatiblists. From this perspective, we have free will, which accords with compatiblists. However, if you investigate the evidence for why we want to do the thing that we think and feel to do at any particular moment, it is based on factors which were completely outside of our control. Therefore, despite the fact that we have complete and total free will to do whatever we think and feel to do at any moment, whatever we think and feel to do at any moment is something that was pre-determined due to the confluence of factors outside of our control that led to that moment and we only become aware of what was determined at the precise moment when that particular thought and feeling, and resultant action occurred.

[Beyondhumanlimits]

Great one! You can tell he’s an amazing teacher because he makes his points easy to grasp using many examples

[ThoughtfulSon]

BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST PODCASTS I HAVE EVER SEEN!!! THANK YOU!! YOU ARE LEGIT ONE OF THE BEST HOSTS!

[cpetri]

I have watched all of Roberts YouTube lectures on "behavioral evolution" from the Stanford University YouTube channel. It's just incredible and It ties in perfectly with the discussions in this video with Curt.

[dr.strangelove]

Wow! This is the first time listened to Dr. Sapolsky and it was very interesting. I feel like I expanded my mind. Looking forward to watching the rest of his videos. Thanks, Curt!

[nithinspp]

I have seen lot of interviews of Dr. Sapolsky. This is one of the BEST. I would say "best of the best". The way you open up an idea in an interview is damn good Curt. Simply amazing. Great mind blowing work Curt. Keep going...❤❤

[johnc]

Thank you for this, both of you. Cheers

[vinaynk]

Its great to listen to Sapolsky. Very nice conversation.

[vaneakatok]

it would be extremely enriching to bring Professor Sapolsky and Donald Hoffman at one table.

Thank you for for this one!