Book symposium on Robert Sapolsky’s Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will

One of the most influential books of the last years on the debate about free will, and probably the most controversial one, is Robert Sapolsky’s Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will (Penguin Press, 2023). Digging deeper on the biological details the author had explored in previous works, the book meticulously explores how every aspect of our behaviour is determined by events we don’t really have a choice about, and also patiently examines the possible repercussions that the realization that free will is an illusion may have on the moral and legal aspects of our lives. Following the invitation of the editors of Teorema, here we present five papers discussing different arguments and ideas contained in the book, together with professor Sapolsky’s answers and comments.

Publication Details

Journal
e-rph (University of Granada)
Published
2025-01-01
Primary Topic
Free Will and Agency
Type
article
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article

Book symposium on Robert Sapolsky’s Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will

e-rph (University of Granada)
Free Will and Agency
article

Book symposium on Robert Sapolsky’s Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will

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Abstract

One of the most influential books of the last years on the debate about free will, and probably the most controversial one, is Robert Sapolsky’s Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will (Penguin Press, 2023). Digging deeper on the biological details the author had explored in previous works, the book meticulously explores how every aspect of our behaviour is determined by events we don’t really have a choice about, and also patiently examines the possible repercussions that the realization that free will is an illusion may have on the moral and legal aspects of our lives. Following the invitation of the editors of Teorema, here we present five papers discussing different arguments and ideas contained in the book, together with professor Sapolsky’s answers and comments.

e-rph (University of Granada)
Peace, Justice and strong institutions
Openalex Percentile: Top 46%
Free Will and Agency
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Book symposium on Robert Sapolsky’s Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will · e-rph (University of Granada) (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS