Free Will & Determinism
Moral responsibility assumes that human beings have free will, the ability to choose to do one action or another. If human beings do not have free will, and all of our actions are predetermined with no option of choosing an alternative, then you can’t hold people morally responsible for bad acts.
Robert Sapolsky a Stanford scientist who does not believe humans have free will.
- L.A. Times article on : “Stanford scientist, after decades of study, concludes: We don’t have free will”
- EconTalk podcast interview with Robert Sapolsky: “Robert Sapolsky on Determinism, Free Will, and Responsibility”
Do we have free will?
Title: Stanford scientist, after decades of study, concludes: We don’t have free will
Description: You may think you chose to read this, but Stanford scientist Robert Sapolsky would disagree. He says virtually all human behavior is beyond our conscious control.
Title: Robert Sapolsky on Determinism, Free Will, and Responsibility - Econlib
Description: Your mother’s socio-economic status at the time of your birth. Whether your ancestors raised crops or led camels through the desert. The smell of the room you’re in when you’re making a decision–all of these things, says neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky, combine to affect your behavior, as well as everything in between. And if you’re wondering […]
Source URL: https://www.econtalk.org/robert-sapolsky-on-determinism-free-will-and-responsibility/