Robert Sapolsky vs Kevin Mitchell: The Biology of Free Will | Philosophical Trials #15

Professor Robert Sapolsky is a Professor of Biology, Neurology, and Surgery at Stanford University. He is the author of multiple books, including A Primate’s Memoir, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, Behave, and Determined. Professor Kevin Mitchell is a Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin, whose research concerns the relationship between the wiring of the brain and the human faculties. His books include Innate and Free Agents. Today’s debate was about whether the empirical literature in the biological sciences allows us to make progress on the free will debate. Conversation Outline: 00:00 Introduction 02:28 Opening Statement: Kevin Mitchell 16:26 Opening Statement: Robert Sapolsky 27:32 First Round of Questioning 45:56 Second Round of Questioning 1:04:56 How can we make evolutionary sense of illusory agency? 1:06:13 How can we make sense of our accomplishments if we have no free will? 1:08:21 Comparisons with Dennett and Hofstadter 1:12:28 Closing thoughts Enjoy! Twitter: Instagram: