I thought that I had listened to all his courses and conferences and interviews. And I am still so grateful when I discover a new one. I am frustrated to admit that this comment doesn't come from my freewill but from the pleasure of being with other humans who share my enthusiasm.
Gently placing to the side how handsome Mo is, I am thankful that Mo let himself be vulnerable, e.g., he asks questions which some may wish to ask, yet the idea of asking them may come with a heap of shyness. I love, love, and love Robert Sapolsky's mind/brain. If there were ever a lottery where you can win an hour walk with Robert and that this hour walk is spent near to some huge body of water, I would buy a thousand tickets. Well, if I could afford them. 🌸
I have only just discovered Sapolsky. I've previously heard just one of his many lectures/interviews and I'm blown away by how deeply his ideas speak to and resonate with me. Thank you Mr. Gawdat for this interview and your advice to re-listen to this talk. I, for one, certainly will be listening to it again.
So fascinating how our brains are conditioned to categorize and assign meaning to symbols. Ghandi was a British educated lawyer who wore British style suits in his professional life, but when he changed to wearing a traditional dhoti, he became "other" to the tribe hed aligned with for his education and professional life. He immediately changed member affiliation to a different tribe with world changin results...sports team cap phenomenon in another guise. Amazing!
I see an alignment of this lens on free will with the work of neuroscientist, Lisa Feldman Barrett's constucted emotion paradigm. Id love to here Dr Sapolsky and Dr. Feldman Barrett dicuss these concepts...that would be fascinating!
Love this discussion. It reminded me of a brilliant quote attributed to Mark Twain...."I have been through some terrible things in my life. Some of which actually happened." Clearly, Zebra brains don't do that! 😂
After Vietnam they did PTSD assessments on men in the infantry and found that 70% did not have PTSD. What was common among the 30% was early childhood trauma. Imprinting.
I think people here, including myself are confusing various things: free will, determinism, will power (or volition), and choosing or acting upon among possiblities. Just this morning I was wondering about our ableness to even consider saying things like "I can choose to be happy": if happyness is a state of my neurons and chemical conditions that set a feeling that is overall pleasing, man that sure shatters any sense of volition from the word "choose" because its determined by favtors that exceed me. And when people say that things then are predetermined I think they, like me, are mind wrestling with the fact that we will NEVER be able to really predict with full knowledge of every single possible outcome that could have led to the make up of how we ended up being the kind of person at any given point in time. I guess im lucky to be able to think about these kind of questions and not be worried about getting eaten by a lion.
I picked my brother's little girl from school, and she broke into tears. Someone was giving her a hard time. That was way more than I could cope with, took all I had to keep it together. Parenthood is not for me.
We don't cause what causes what happens to us. And obviously what happens, happens; the universe cannot do otherwise, and your mind is part of the universe (final truths are like this). We shouldn't confuse being aware that something happened with that we were the single complete cause (with absolutely no other forces involved) of what happened. All of existence is simply flowing causal forces - this ultimate truth doesn't change the possibility of pursuing a good life.
So…I chose to go to a place to make friends. The man who is now my husband of 32 years was there. Those were predetermined? I could’ve chosen to go to a different place, or not to go at all. So is it like some religious people believe in predestination?
Not "pre" determined. Just "determined". Caused. You didn't choose to want to go, or to want to meet people. You didn't choose that your future husband would be there, or that you would be compatible. Nothing is the cause of itself. No god is necessary for that to be true.
Fun fact, domestic horses can have ulcers, in fact it's not so uncommon because the diet in captivity is often not entirely suitable to their hind gut fermentation, plus they often live in long term stressful circumstances.
Humans have culture, we make up our world. A hippo never wonders about the harvest, human depend on what we imagine and the behavior our imagination inspires. Of course we are concerned about cultural dynamics that are detrimental to our thriving, others surviving or people over there starving. A zebra simply goes back to eating grass
What an amazing conversation will definitely listen to this one again, in my observations I think maybe it’s the 🧬 genes and the hand you’re dealt with which play a more significant role in how you are, wow the adrenaline and the anticipation before it that is eye opening, loved this conversation 😊❤
I believe the difference lies in the involvement of hormones and neurotransmitters, such as tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), and genes like GS224, which distinguish between empathy and resentment.
A wise man once said, "see it, don't be it" ...could the awareness and conscious processing of our thoughts and impulses also be determined, i.e.; beyond our control?
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:04 *🤖 Introduction to the guest, Dr. Robert Sapolsky* - Mo Gawdat introduces his guest, Dr. Robert Sasky, a renowned neuroscientist and primatologist. - Gawdat expresses his admiration for Sapolsky's work, specifically mentioning several of his books. 00:45 *🧠 The link between biology and human behavior* - Gawdat highlights Sapolsky's expertise in explaining how biology shapes human behavior. - The discussion will focus on the biology of stress and how it affects humans. 01:14 *📚 The upcoming book "Unstress" and the series on stress* - Gawdat introduces the upcoming book "Unstress" and the series on stress, which this conversation is a part of. - He encourages the audience to pre-order the book and attend the opening seminar. 02:09 *🧬 The evolutionary basis of the stress response* - Sapolsky explains the ancient evolutionary origins of the stress response, which is shared by many species. - He highlights the unique ability of humans to experience psychological stress and chronic stress, which can lead to problems. 04:44 *🗺 Humans' ability to create abstract stressors* - Sapolsky discusses how humans can create psychological stressors that are not based on immediate threats, unlike other species. - This ability to be stressed by abstract concerns is a double-edged sword for humans. 07:02 *🦓 The difference between human and animal stress responses* - Sapolsky contrasts the stress response of animals, which is focused on immediate threats, with the stress response of humans, which can be triggered by abstract concerns. - He explains how humans' ability to anticipate and ruminate on stressors can lead to problems. 09:17 *🌍 The challenge of empathy and compassion for distant others* - Sapolsky discusses the human capacity for empathy and compassion, and the difficulty in extending it to those who are psychologically or physically distant. - He highlights the tendency for people to feel more empathy for those who are similar to them or part of their "in-group". 11:07 *🧘♀ Strategies for managing stress and maintaining perspective* - Sapolsky suggests strategies for distinguishing between controllable and uncontrollable sources of stress, and focusing on information that is genuinely useful rather than merely stress-inducing. - He emphasizes the importance of developing the ability to maintain emotional distance and detachment in order to act compassionately. 15:10 *💬 The tendency to focus on one's own emotional needs rather than the victim's* - Gawdat observes that much of the outrage and commentary on current events seems to be driven by people's own emotional needs, rather than genuine concern for the victims. - Sapolsky agrees, highlighting the challenge of extending empathy to those who are psychologically or culturally distant. 18:05 *🎥 The complexity of human attitudes towards violence and love* - Gawdat reflects on Sapolsky's previous comments about the human capacity for both violence and compassion, and the nuanced contexts in which these traits are expressed. - Sapolsky expands on the paradoxical nature of human behavior, explaining how the same person can exhibit both extreme violence and extreme compassion. 25:18 *🧠 The role of empathy and bias in perceiving others' pain* - Sapolsky explains how people's empathetic responses can be affected by factors like the race or appearance of the person in pain. - The anterior cingulate cortex, which is involved in empathy, can be less responsive when people are stressed. 28:12 *🗺 How stress narrows people's circles of empathy and concern* - Stress hormones like cortisol can make the brain more selfish and focused on its own needs, reducing empathy for those outside one's immediate "in-group". - Stress can bring out the best in some people, but more often brings out the worst, making it harder to feel concern for distant or unfamiliar others. 30:03 *🤔 The innate tendency to divide the world into "us" and "them"* - Studies show that the amygdala, involved in fear and anxiety, can be triggered within a fraction of a second when seeing faces of a different race. - This suggests an innate tendency to categorize the world into in-groups and out-groups, even based on arbitrary cues like clothing or hats. 33:23 *🌎 The arbitrariness of human loyalties and hatreds* - Sapolsky explores how easily people's sense of "us" and "them" can be manipulated based on superficial cues like sports team affiliations or religious/ideological symbols. - He emphasizes the fundamental arbitrariness of the factors that determine who people are willing to kill or die for. 41:18 *🤑 The role of dopamine in human motivation and the "happiness of the pursuit"* - Sapolsky explains how dopamine, often associated with reward, is actually more about the anticipation of reward rather than the reward itself. - This helps explain the human tendency to be driven more by the pursuit of pleasure than the pleasure itself, and the resulting dissatisfaction with attained goals. 46:45 *🔁 The need to constantly reset the "gain" on the dopamine system* - Humans have an extraordinary ability to experience dopamine-driven pleasure from a wide range of stimuli, from poetry to orgasms. - However, this requires the brain to constantly recalibrate the "gain" on the dopamine system, leading to a perpetual state of wanting more and being unsatisfied. 48:33 *🤖 The vulnerability of humans to manipulation by understanding the dopamine system* - Sapolsky notes that the science of how the dopamine system works can be exploited by those who understand it, leading people to feel increasingly hungry and less satisfied. - This highlights the challenge of maintaining contentment in a world designed to constantly stimulate our dopamine-driven desires. 50:35 *🧠 The role of biology and environment in shaping behavior* - Sapolsky explains his view that there is no free will, as our behaviors are the result of our biological and environmental history, over which we have no control. - He argues that even moments of apparent choice or resistance to one's nature are still shaped by the person's past experiences and predispositions. 51:02 *🔑 An example of a transformative moment overriding one's "nature"* - Gawdat shares a personal story of a moment when his daughter's distress led him to act in a way that went against his typical driven, business-focused behavior. - Sapolsky acknowledges that while this was not a free choice, it was a pivotal moment that shaped Gawdat's future actions and character. 53:46 *🤔 The role of one's personal history in shaping how we respond to experiences* - Sapolsky explores how two people can have vastly different responses to the same event or experience, based on their unique biological and environmental histories. - He suggests that the factors that lead someone to be profoundly impacted by a particular moment are not a matter of chance, but a result of who that person has become. 55:19 *🎢 Reconciling determinism with the capacity for change and growth* - Sapolsky acknowledges the scientific view that our behaviors are largely determined by factors outside our control, but also highlights our ability to use our knowledge and reflective capacity to shape our future actions. - He suggests that while we may lack free will in a strict sense, we can leverage our understanding of how our brains and behaviors work to consciously reconfigure our responses and make positive changes. 01:00:05 *🌍 The potential for positive change despite societal determinism* - Gawdat expresses concern that the deterministic forces shaping human behavior and society may lead to increasingly negative outcomes, like more conflict and inequality. - Sapolsky responds by emphasizing that while we are all biological machines, we are uniquely capable of using our knowledge and reflective abilities to consciously shape our individual and collective futures for the better. 01:03:53 *💪 Empowering ourselves to make positive changes* - Sapolsky explains that while our behaviors are shaped by factors beyond our control, we can still use our understanding of how our "biological machines" work to reconfigure our responses and become a more positive force in the world. - He encourages the audience to find the experiences and perspectives that empower them to make a difference, even in the face of societal and biological determinism. Made with HARPA AI
Breakdown of the Key Takeaways Background: The host, Mo Gawdat, introduces his guest, Dr. Robert Sapolsky, as a renowned neuroscientist and primatologist. Sapolsky is known for his work exploring the link between biology and human behavior. The discussion is part of a miniseries on stress, in preparation for the release of Gawdat's book "Unstress". Stress and the Evolutionary Basis of the Human Response: - Sapolsky explains that the stress response, involving the hormone cortisol, is an ancient evolutionary mechanism shared across vertebrates. - However, humans have developed the unique ability to experience psychological stress in response to abstract, imagined threats, rather than just immediate physical dangers. - This can lead to chronic stress and associated health problems, as the body's stress response is not designed for prolonged activation. The Role of Empathy and Bias in Perceiving Others' Pain: - Research shows that the brain's empathy centers can be influenced by factors like race or social group membership, with the anterior cingulate cortex showing less activation when viewing the pain of "outsiders". - Stress hormones like cortisol can further narrow people's circles of empathy, making it harder to feel concern for distant or unfamiliar others. The Innate Tendency to Divide the World into "Us" and "Them": - Studies demonstrate the amygdala's rapid, automatic response to faces of different races, suggesting an innate tendency to categorize the world into in-groups and out-groups. - This tribal mentality can be easily manipulated by arbitrary cues like sports team affiliations or religious symbols. The Arbitrariness of Human Loyalties and Hatreds: - Sapolsky explores how superficial factors can determine who people are willing to kill or die for, highlighting the fundamental arbitrariness of such loyalties. - He suggests that one's beliefs and allegiances are largely the result of one's circumstances, rather than free choice. The Role of Dopamine in Human Motivation and the "Happiness of the Pursuit": - Sapolsky explains that dopamine, often associated with reward, is more about the anticipation of reward than the reward itself. - This helps explain the human tendency to be driven more by the pursuit of pleasure than the pleasure itself, leading to perpetual dissatisfaction. Determinism and the Capacity for Positive Change: - Sapolsky argues that there is no free will, as our behaviors are shaped by factors outside our control, from our biology to our environments. - However, he suggests that by understanding the mechanisms that determine our actions, we can leverage our knowledge and reflective abilities to make positive changes, both individually and collectively.
I'm always confused by Sapolsky. So we don't have free will, but we do have the ability to act on knowledge learned. But how do we learn this knowledge if not by choice? If I have no free will, the knowledge presented to me was predetermined. Consequently, what knowledge I choose to act on will be predetermined as well? Like, he's saying I don't have a choice in where the ship goes, but I can steer the ship in a certain direction, but that sounds contradictory in itself. I'm open to further explanation here.
Imagine you are a dog tied by a leash to a wagon. The wagon is going to go where it goes (predetermined). If you refuse to run with the wagon, you’ll be dragged. Predetermination goes all the way back to stoicism- though they did not accept that there was no free will. They were reluctant if no free will but in any case things being inevitable.
@@alint09 Thank you, that clarifies things a bit. What will happen, will happen. But I get to choose what sights to see, and what fire hydrants to pee on along the journey, before the wagon gets to the predetermined destination. fair enough i guess. I don't think I like the term "free will" being used to describe this though.
@@georgeherren606 You’re welcome. I think you’re also correct to call it contradictory. It’s a paradox. How can determination and free will coexist? For me, it’s not so much the having that answer but more so the real world application, leading me to a deeper understanding and compassion for why people do the things they do.
😮. Yes, the topic is simple but very complicated. Learning is a change but from your environment. You don’t change but you are changed. The confabulation the brain does is not very helpful for understanding how the brain works… 😮
@@alint09 that's my issue as well. I don't think free will and determinism can coexist. I'm glad it helps build compassion in others. May be an inflammatory and misleading way to achieve that though.
My only caveat is dogs have extreme anxiety to stress that hasn’t happened, this maybe either learned by environmental trauma or genetically selected for by selective breeding. Dogs can’t read books feel upset to the very fact that others are stressed. Chimps.. rats I think they’ve shown stress or anxiety.. but I know from growing up with dogs and finding them fascinating that they have real fear of perspective stressors that may not even be real.
Dogs can also display empathy (including for beings they have not previously met). I think the main thing is that the difference between humans and other animals is vast.
Merely asking..Is it our biology/mechanics v. a condition of our collective and individual Spirits within such an unnatural, atomised global society? Without the realisation of our innate Spiritual nature(what the worldly wise are confounded on as "consciousness") isn't our species at existential jeopardy? Because if its all about the 'mechanics within"..if and when this thought is sufficiently advanced to its logical conclusion...perhaps eugenics 2.0? especially with greater computational power easily influencing and advancing the biotech industry? If its then the physio-psycho-social cogent argument of honourable Dr.Mate.. is it as sufficient enough without addressing the basic fundamental floor of our global economic disorder and its' incongruous effects upon us all? Dont we mostly tend to complexify the very simple? Isn't simplicity truly Divine?
I disagree with Sapolsky on free will because of the following: - We can never do REAL experiments determining if free will is real - Therefore, we can never know if it is real - Therefore, if we have free will and assume it's not real, we might really be fucking up and excusing bad behavior as "meh, it's just pre determined" We should assume it's real to a degree that is somewhat rational, I think.
That is irrational because you have no idea what the degree is or should be. Something that does not exist cannot be measured. However, there is heaps of objective evidence for determinism. If determinism, then no free will. If you "fuck up" and there is no free will, then there are still consequences.
@@sjoerd1239 Ya, no shit, the degree is judged by intuition...you know...the thing we use every day successfully. What is a democracy and what isn't, what is love and what isn't, etc, etc. That's better than what you're doing by taking a MASSIVE leap from A to Z.
@@24tommyst That thing you use daily has a bad record of mistreating others. Believing in determinism is not a massive leap.. Science is based on determinism.
@24tommyst you have no proof that your will is free, yet make that leap. Even though all psychology is based on the idea that previous events cause behavior. Even though all science is based on cause and effect. Your belief in free will is the magical thinking here. Nothing is the cause of itself.
What is the most expensive thing? A human life. What is the cheapest thing? Another human life. I do not find the human capacity to stress over things that are not immediately happening as bizarre, like Sapolsky. One would want to avoid the situation or cope with the situation in the future. The situation could have serious life consequences, including how others treat you. It matters if it is likely to happen in the future. If the stress disappeared immediately after the event, then that would not help dealing with it. What if it cannot be dealt with? To some extent, dealing well with stress requires accepting life, come what may, and brushing it off. One does not want to be cold either. That requires different things from different people, different people face different situations, and not all people have the same capabilities. Putting up with “useless” stress might be unavoidable and how much must be put up with depends on who the person is. How people interact socially is a very big factor; meaning that general behaviour can be the cause of other’s misery, even if unintended.
...as a German Bio Chemist Ph D Sa Polski is a re incarnated Gil Ga Mesh a meso Potamian King nothing disturbs his eternal Mind ever we Pedestrians are Sheeple on the Farm...
About free will, Gawdat does not appear to be looking at the objective evidence (he intuitively wants to believe in free will). The objective evidence supports determinism. With determinism there is no free will.
It's almost semantical. Gawdat gets to the point where he understands that the atoms collide randomly, However, he states, "I make the "CHOISE" to do the next thing. Sapolsky then suggested Gawdat to go and spread his profound insights. Sapolsky doesn't seem to characterize his suggestion to Gawdat as a CHOICE, then what is it?
@mykibalzy Firstly, randomness does not allow for free will. It is not a choice made freely. It is determined, like the action of a multifunction robot is determined. Gawdot has just heard an option that might cause him to do so.
@mykibalzy I think that Gawdat's action will be determined by all that he has become, from what proceeded, for any moment that he acts. On what will you base your thoughts on what Gawdat will do?
@sjoerd1239 I'm not sure he might not change at all or if Gadwat followed Sapolsky's suggestion, it would more than likely entail some kind of behavior modification to moderate his old work habits. Possibly engaging in some kind of therapy or self-help. He'll have to think about which strategy will work best for him and pursue one
You’re someone who has been biologically led to watching these videos so most likely, you’re biologically prone to deep thinking, so most likely you’re able to become empathetic towards all humans ☮️💜
Yeap another comment ! Hope people who believe or worship are listening to this episode and understand why religions hack our brains through flags or territories.
@@mikepoor6397 The notion of lack-of-free-will is uncomfortable to conceptualize and embrace. It doesn't mean you don't think thoughts or make choices -- or at least you _think_ you make choices 😝-- and it doesn't mean life is scripted. Sapolsky explains the biology of it here: ruclips.net/video/xhobcj2K9v4/видео.html A compelling example is the data about prisoners being granted parole. The longer it was after a meal, the more likely the judge would deny parole. I forget the numbers exactly but early in the morning or shortly after lunch a prisioner would be parolled something like 60% of the time and just before lunch or the end of the day it would close to 0%. Free will says that the judge's mood, how much sleep they got the night before, degree of hunger, whether or not s/he had a fight with their spouse/kids or got a parking ticket would have no affect on the judgement but the fact that these factors _do_ have influence on behavior means you're not really driving the bus. The discussion in this podcast about the brain scan results tells the same story -- Mother Nature is driving the bus.
@@mikepoor6397 We are in most cases free to have thoughts, but our thoughts are pre determined. You don’t choose the thoughts that you have but your still free to have thoughts. In most scenarios, we’re not in a position where we are prevented from having thoughts.
I love it when Robert Sapolsky says, "Wow". I'm always waiting for it when I hear him speak. 😃
Wonderful, I could listen to Dr. Sapolsky all day. Brilliant.
He is my dopamine lol
What a blessing to society...and my mental health.
I thought that I had listened to all his courses and conferences and interviews. And I am still so grateful when I discover a new one. I am frustrated to admit that this comment doesn't come from my freewill but from the pleasure of being with other humans who share my enthusiasm.
You do have free will. Even if Determinism is true there is still room for free will in a deterministic world.
Gently placing to the side how handsome Mo is, I am thankful that Mo let himself be vulnerable, e.g., he asks questions which some may wish to ask, yet the idea of asking them may come with a heap of shyness. I love, love, and love Robert Sapolsky's mind/brain. If there were ever a lottery where you can win an hour walk with Robert and that this hour walk is spent near to some huge body of water, I would buy a thousand tickets. Well, if I could afford them. 🌸
Robert Sapolsky is such a mastermind! His book Behave was remarkable read.
I loved it!!!
So looking forward to your new book!!! Thank you Robert! Its so good to see you!!!
I have only just discovered Sapolsky. I've previously heard just one of his many lectures/interviews and I'm blown away by how deeply his ideas speak to and resonate with me. Thank you Mr. Gawdat for this interview and your advice to re-listen to this talk. I, for one, certainly will be listening to it again.
So fascinating how our brains are conditioned to categorize and assign meaning to symbols. Ghandi was a British educated lawyer who wore British style suits in his professional life, but when he changed to wearing a traditional dhoti, he became "other" to the tribe hed aligned with for his education and professional life. He immediately changed member affiliation to a different tribe with world changin results...sports team cap phenomenon in another guise. Amazing!
1
This was incredible. And thank you for introducing me to Robert. I just got some of his books!
Also I will be watching this again + look forward to the next visit :) I could listen to yall talk for hours (but with breaks to process)
I listen to doctor to Sapolsky in a lot of podcasts but you managed to pull this knowledge out of him with your question. Thanks.
1:00:11 to 1:03:43
Initial resistance - then curiosity and decision to know more! Thank you so much
Two of my favorite minds talking, what a delight!!! ❤
I love Dr Robert Sapolsky. He’s my favoe 😊
I see an alignment of this lens on free will with the work of neuroscientist, Lisa Feldman Barrett's constucted emotion paradigm. Id love to here Dr Sapolsky and Dr. Feldman Barrett dicuss these concepts...that would be fascinating!
You /Ali changed my life!!!! 0h I follow you NEwhere!!
Ty~
It's one thing to talk about this. but another to really experience it!!
I love ur channel
Love this discussion. It reminded me of a brilliant quote attributed to Mark Twain...."I have been through some terrible things in my life. Some of which actually happened."
Clearly, Zebra brains don't do that! 😂
100%
After Vietnam they did PTSD assessments on men in the infantry and found that 70% did not have PTSD. What was common among the 30% was early childhood trauma. Imprinting.
@LaurelASmith1 Do you have a reference for this study? Very interesting findings.
One Love!
Always forward, never ever backward!!
☀️☀️☀️
💚💛❤️
🙏🏿🙏🙏🏼
I think people here, including myself are confusing various things: free will, determinism, will power (or volition), and choosing or acting upon among possiblities. Just this morning I was wondering about our ableness to even consider saying things like "I can choose to be happy": if happyness is a state of my neurons and chemical conditions that set a feeling that is overall pleasing, man that sure shatters any sense of volition from the word "choose" because its determined by favtors that exceed me. And when people say that things then are predetermined I think they, like me, are mind wrestling with the fact that we will NEVER be able to really predict with full knowledge of every single possible outcome that could have led to the make up of how we ended up being the kind of person at any given point in time. I guess im lucky to be able to think about these kind of questions and not be worried about getting eaten by a lion.
I picked my brother's little girl from school, and she broke into tears. Someone was giving her a hard time.
That was way more than I could cope with, took all I had to keep it together. Parenthood is not for me.
We don't cause what causes what happens to us. And obviously what happens, happens; the universe cannot do otherwise, and your mind is part of the universe (final truths are like this). We shouldn't confuse being aware that something happened with that we were the single complete cause (with absolutely no other forces involved) of what happened. All of existence is simply flowing causal forces - this ultimate truth doesn't change the possibility of pursuing a good life.
So…I chose to go to a place to make friends. The man who is now my husband of 32 years was there. Those were predetermined? I could’ve chosen to go to a different place, or not to go at all. So is it like some religious people believe in predestination?
Not "pre" determined. Just "determined". Caused.
You didn't choose to want to go, or to want to meet people. You didn't choose that your future husband would be there, or that you would be compatible. Nothing is the cause of itself. No god is necessary for that to be true.
Super!
Fun fact, domestic horses can have ulcers, in fact it's not so uncommon because the diet in captivity is often not entirely suitable to their hind gut fermentation, plus they often live in long term stressful circumstances.
Humans have culture, we make up our world. A hippo never wonders about the harvest, human depend on what we imagine and the behavior our imagination inspires.
Of course we are concerned about cultural dynamics that are detrimental to our thriving, others surviving or people over there starving. A zebra simply goes back to eating grass
Have you read "Sapiens" by Yuval Harari, or listened to any of his talks? If not, it's great, great stuff.
What an amazing conversation will definitely listen to this one again, in my observations I think maybe it’s the 🧬 genes and the hand you’re dealt with which play a more significant role in how you are, wow the adrenaline and the anticipation before it that is eye opening, loved this conversation 😊❤
I believe the difference lies in the involvement of hormones and neurotransmitters, such as tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), and genes like GS224, which distinguish between empathy and resentment.
A wise man once said, "see it, don't be it" ...could the awareness and conscious processing of our thoughts and impulses also be determined, i.e.; beyond our control?
two special humans
I'd like to see a discussion with the handful of people who downvoted this video. Just curious
Great
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:04 *🤖 Introduction to the guest, Dr. Robert Sapolsky*
- Mo Gawdat introduces his guest, Dr. Robert Sasky, a renowned neuroscientist and primatologist.
- Gawdat expresses his admiration for Sapolsky's work, specifically mentioning several of his books.
00:45 *🧠 The link between biology and human behavior*
- Gawdat highlights Sapolsky's expertise in explaining how biology shapes human behavior.
- The discussion will focus on the biology of stress and how it affects humans.
01:14 *📚 The upcoming book "Unstress" and the series on stress*
- Gawdat introduces the upcoming book "Unstress" and the series on stress, which this conversation is a part of.
- He encourages the audience to pre-order the book and attend the opening seminar.
02:09 *🧬 The evolutionary basis of the stress response*
- Sapolsky explains the ancient evolutionary origins of the stress response, which is shared by many species.
- He highlights the unique ability of humans to experience psychological stress and chronic stress, which can lead to problems.
04:44 *🗺 Humans' ability to create abstract stressors*
- Sapolsky discusses how humans can create psychological stressors that are not based on immediate threats, unlike other species.
- This ability to be stressed by abstract concerns is a double-edged sword for humans.
07:02 *🦓 The difference between human and animal stress responses*
- Sapolsky contrasts the stress response of animals, which is focused on immediate threats, with the stress response of humans, which can be triggered by abstract concerns.
- He explains how humans' ability to anticipate and ruminate on stressors can lead to problems.
09:17 *🌍 The challenge of empathy and compassion for distant others*
- Sapolsky discusses the human capacity for empathy and compassion, and the difficulty in extending it to those who are psychologically or physically distant.
- He highlights the tendency for people to feel more empathy for those who are similar to them or part of their "in-group".
11:07 *🧘♀ Strategies for managing stress and maintaining perspective*
- Sapolsky suggests strategies for distinguishing between controllable and uncontrollable sources of stress, and focusing on information that is genuinely useful rather than merely stress-inducing.
- He emphasizes the importance of developing the ability to maintain emotional distance and detachment in order to act compassionately.
15:10 *💬 The tendency to focus on one's own emotional needs rather than the victim's*
- Gawdat observes that much of the outrage and commentary on current events seems to be driven by people's own emotional needs, rather than genuine concern for the victims.
- Sapolsky agrees, highlighting the challenge of extending empathy to those who are psychologically or culturally distant.
18:05 *🎥 The complexity of human attitudes towards violence and love*
- Gawdat reflects on Sapolsky's previous comments about the human capacity for both violence and compassion, and the nuanced contexts in which these traits are expressed.
- Sapolsky expands on the paradoxical nature of human behavior, explaining how the same person can exhibit both extreme violence and extreme compassion.
25:18 *🧠 The role of empathy and bias in perceiving others' pain*
- Sapolsky explains how people's empathetic responses can be affected by factors like the race or appearance of the person in pain.
- The anterior cingulate cortex, which is involved in empathy, can be less responsive when people are stressed.
28:12 *🗺 How stress narrows people's circles of empathy and concern*
- Stress hormones like cortisol can make the brain more selfish and focused on its own needs, reducing empathy for those outside one's immediate "in-group".
- Stress can bring out the best in some people, but more often brings out the worst, making it harder to feel concern for distant or unfamiliar others.
30:03 *🤔 The innate tendency to divide the world into "us" and "them"*
- Studies show that the amygdala, involved in fear and anxiety, can be triggered within a fraction of a second when seeing faces of a different race.
- This suggests an innate tendency to categorize the world into in-groups and out-groups, even based on arbitrary cues like clothing or hats.
33:23 *🌎 The arbitrariness of human loyalties and hatreds*
- Sapolsky explores how easily people's sense of "us" and "them" can be manipulated based on superficial cues like sports team affiliations or religious/ideological symbols.
- He emphasizes the fundamental arbitrariness of the factors that determine who people are willing to kill or die for.
41:18 *🤑 The role of dopamine in human motivation and the "happiness of the pursuit"*
- Sapolsky explains how dopamine, often associated with reward, is actually more about the anticipation of reward rather than the reward itself.
- This helps explain the human tendency to be driven more by the pursuit of pleasure than the pleasure itself, and the resulting dissatisfaction with attained goals.
46:45 *🔁 The need to constantly reset the "gain" on the dopamine system*
- Humans have an extraordinary ability to experience dopamine-driven pleasure from a wide range of stimuli, from poetry to orgasms.
- However, this requires the brain to constantly recalibrate the "gain" on the dopamine system, leading to a perpetual state of wanting more and being unsatisfied.
48:33 *🤖 The vulnerability of humans to manipulation by understanding the dopamine system*
- Sapolsky notes that the science of how the dopamine system works can be exploited by those who understand it, leading people to feel increasingly hungry and less satisfied.
- This highlights the challenge of maintaining contentment in a world designed to constantly stimulate our dopamine-driven desires.
50:35 *🧠 The role of biology and environment in shaping behavior*
- Sapolsky explains his view that there is no free will, as our behaviors are the result of our biological and environmental history, over which we have no control.
- He argues that even moments of apparent choice or resistance to one's nature are still shaped by the person's past experiences and predispositions.
51:02 *🔑 An example of a transformative moment overriding one's "nature"*
- Gawdat shares a personal story of a moment when his daughter's distress led him to act in a way that went against his typical driven, business-focused behavior.
- Sapolsky acknowledges that while this was not a free choice, it was a pivotal moment that shaped Gawdat's future actions and character.
53:46 *🤔 The role of one's personal history in shaping how we respond to experiences*
- Sapolsky explores how two people can have vastly different responses to the same event or experience, based on their unique biological and environmental histories.
- He suggests that the factors that lead someone to be profoundly impacted by a particular moment are not a matter of chance, but a result of who that person has become.
55:19 *🎢 Reconciling determinism with the capacity for change and growth*
- Sapolsky acknowledges the scientific view that our behaviors are largely determined by factors outside our control, but also highlights our ability to use our knowledge and reflective capacity to shape our future actions.
- He suggests that while we may lack free will in a strict sense, we can leverage our understanding of how our brains and behaviors work to consciously reconfigure our responses and make positive changes.
01:00:05 *🌍 The potential for positive change despite societal determinism*
- Gawdat expresses concern that the deterministic forces shaping human behavior and society may lead to increasingly negative outcomes, like more conflict and inequality.
- Sapolsky responds by emphasizing that while we are all biological machines, we are uniquely capable of using our knowledge and reflective abilities to consciously shape our individual and collective futures for the better.
01:03:53 *💪 Empowering ourselves to make positive changes*
- Sapolsky explains that while our behaviors are shaped by factors beyond our control, we can still use our understanding of how our "biological machines" work to reconfigure our responses and become a more positive force in the world.
- He encourages the audience to find the experiences and perspectives that empower them to make a difference, even in the face of societal and biological determinism.
Made with HARPA AI
Breakdown of the Key Takeaways
Background:
The host, Mo Gawdat, introduces his guest, Dr. Robert Sapolsky, as a renowned neuroscientist and primatologist. Sapolsky is known for his work exploring the link between biology and human behavior. The discussion is part of a miniseries on stress, in preparation for the release of Gawdat's book "Unstress".
Stress and the Evolutionary Basis of the Human Response:
- Sapolsky explains that the stress response, involving the hormone cortisol, is an ancient evolutionary mechanism shared across vertebrates.
- However, humans have developed the unique ability to experience psychological stress in response to abstract, imagined threats, rather than just immediate physical dangers.
- This can lead to chronic stress and associated health problems, as the body's stress response is not designed for prolonged activation.
The Role of Empathy and Bias in Perceiving Others' Pain:
- Research shows that the brain's empathy centers can be influenced by factors like race or social group membership, with the anterior cingulate cortex showing less activation when viewing the pain of "outsiders".
- Stress hormones like cortisol can further narrow people's circles of empathy, making it harder to feel concern for distant or unfamiliar others.
The Innate Tendency to Divide the World into "Us" and "Them":
- Studies demonstrate the amygdala's rapid, automatic response to faces of different races, suggesting an innate tendency to categorize the world into in-groups and out-groups.
- This tribal mentality can be easily manipulated by arbitrary cues like sports team affiliations or religious symbols.
The Arbitrariness of Human Loyalties and Hatreds:
- Sapolsky explores how superficial factors can determine who people are willing to kill or die for, highlighting the fundamental arbitrariness of such loyalties.
- He suggests that one's beliefs and allegiances are largely the result of one's circumstances, rather than free choice.
The Role of Dopamine in Human Motivation and the "Happiness of the Pursuit":
- Sapolsky explains that dopamine, often associated with reward, is more about the anticipation of reward than the reward itself.
- This helps explain the human tendency to be driven more by the pursuit of pleasure than the pleasure itself, leading to perpetual dissatisfaction.
Determinism and the Capacity for Positive Change:
- Sapolsky argues that there is no free will, as our behaviors are shaped by factors outside our control, from our biology to our environments.
- However, he suggests that by understanding the mechanisms that determine our actions, we can leverage our knowledge and reflective abilities to make positive changes, both individually and collectively.
This interview points me to God!!!
God explains nothing.
I'm always confused by Sapolsky. So we don't have free will, but we do have the ability to act on knowledge learned. But how do we learn this knowledge if not by choice? If I have no free will, the knowledge presented to me was predetermined. Consequently, what knowledge I choose to act on will be predetermined as well? Like, he's saying I don't have a choice in where the ship goes, but I can steer the ship in a certain direction, but that sounds contradictory in itself. I'm open to further explanation here.
Imagine you are a dog tied by a leash to a wagon. The wagon is going to go where it goes (predetermined). If you refuse to run with the wagon, you’ll be dragged. Predetermination goes all the way back to stoicism- though they did not accept that there was no free will. They were reluctant if no free will but in any case things being inevitable.
@@alint09 Thank you, that clarifies things a bit. What will happen, will happen. But I get to choose what sights to see, and what fire hydrants to pee on along the journey, before the wagon gets to the predetermined destination. fair enough i guess. I don't think I like the term "free will" being used to describe this though.
@@georgeherren606 You’re welcome. I think you’re also correct to call it contradictory. It’s a paradox. How can determination and free will coexist? For me, it’s not so much the having that answer but more so the real world application, leading me to a deeper understanding and compassion for why people do the things they do.
😮. Yes, the topic is simple but very complicated. Learning is a change but from your environment. You don’t change but you are changed. The confabulation the brain does is not very helpful for understanding how the brain works… 😮
@@alint09 that's my issue as well. I don't think free will and determinism can coexist. I'm glad it helps build compassion in others. May be an inflammatory and misleading way to achieve that though.
More healers, less cops.
God!!!!
My only caveat is dogs have extreme anxiety to stress that hasn’t happened, this maybe either learned by environmental trauma or genetically selected for by selective breeding. Dogs can’t read books feel upset to the very fact that others are stressed. Chimps.. rats I think they’ve shown stress or anxiety.. but I know from growing up with dogs and finding them fascinating that they have real fear of perspective stressors that may not even be real.
Dogs can also display empathy (including for beings they have not previously met). I think the main thing is that the difference between humans and other animals is vast.
Merely asking..Is it our biology/mechanics v. a condition of our collective and individual Spirits within such an unnatural, atomised global society? Without the realisation of our innate Spiritual nature(what the worldly wise are confounded on as "consciousness") isn't our species at existential jeopardy? Because if its all about the 'mechanics within"..if and when this thought is sufficiently advanced to its logical conclusion...perhaps eugenics 2.0? especially with greater computational power easily influencing and advancing the biotech industry? If its then the physio-psycho-social cogent argument of honourable Dr.Mate.. is it as sufficient enough without addressing the basic fundamental floor of our global economic disorder and its' incongruous effects upon us all? Dont we mostly tend to complexify the very simple? Isn't simplicity truly Divine?
I disagree with Sapolsky on free will because of the following:
- We can never do REAL experiments determining if free will is real
- Therefore, we can never know if it is real
- Therefore, if we have free will and assume it's not real, we might really be fucking up and excusing bad behavior as "meh, it's just pre determined"
We should assume it's real to a degree that is somewhat rational, I think.
That is irrational because you have no idea what the degree is or should be. Something that does not exist cannot be measured. However, there is heaps of objective evidence for determinism. If determinism, then no free will.
If you "fuck up" and there is no free will, then there are still consequences.
@@sjoerd1239 Ya, no shit, the degree is judged by intuition...you know...the thing we use every day successfully. What is a democracy and what isn't, what is love and what isn't, etc, etc. That's better than what you're doing by taking a MASSIVE leap from A to Z.
@@24tommyst
That thing you use daily has a bad record of mistreating others. Believing in determinism is not a massive leap.. Science is based on determinism.
@24tommyst you have no proof that your will is free, yet make that leap. Even though all psychology is based on the idea that previous events cause behavior. Even though all science is based on cause and effect.
Your belief in free will is the magical thinking here. Nothing is the cause of itself.
What is the most expensive thing? A human life. What is the cheapest thing? Another human life.
I do not find the human capacity to stress over things that are not immediately happening as bizarre, like Sapolsky. One would want to avoid the situation or cope with the situation in the future. The situation could have serious life consequences, including how others treat you. It matters if it is likely to happen in the future. If the stress disappeared immediately after the event, then that would not help dealing with it.
What if it cannot be dealt with? To some extent, dealing well with stress requires accepting life, come what may, and brushing it off. One does not want to be cold either. That requires different things from different people, different people face different situations, and not all people have the same capabilities. Putting up with “useless” stress might be unavoidable and how much must be put up with depends on who the person is. How people interact socially is a very big factor; meaning that general behaviour can be the cause of other’s misery, even if unintended.
great,but impossible to watch,too many ads.
...as a German Bio Chemist Ph D
Sa Polski
is a re incarnated Gil Ga Mesh
a meso Potamian King
nothing disturbs his eternal Mind ever
we Pedestrians are Sheeple on the Farm...
About free will, Gawdat does not appear to be looking at the objective evidence (he intuitively wants to believe in free will). The objective evidence supports determinism. With determinism there is no free will.
It's almost semantical. Gawdat gets to the point where he understands that the atoms collide randomly, However, he states, "I make the "CHOISE" to do the next thing. Sapolsky then suggested Gawdat to go and spread his profound insights. Sapolsky doesn't seem to characterize his suggestion to Gawdat as a CHOICE, then what is it?
@mykibalzy
Firstly, randomness does not allow for free will.
It is not a choice made freely. It is determined, like the action of a multifunction robot is determined. Gawdot has just heard an option that might cause him to do so.
@sjoerd1239 Do you think that Gadwat will take Sapolsky's suggestion to live a life inspired by his profound moment with his daughter?
@mykibalzy
I think that Gawdat's action will be determined by all that he has become, from what proceeded, for any moment that he acts.
On what will you base your thoughts on what Gawdat will do?
@sjoerd1239 I'm not sure he might not change at all or if Gadwat followed Sapolsky's suggestion, it would more than likely entail some kind of behavior modification to moderate his old work habits. Possibly engaging in some kind of therapy or self-help. He'll have to think about which strategy will work best for him and pursue one
how am i supposed to be calm when theres a child that "fell in a well" in morroco
Okay we dont have free will .. non of the animal has.. so? What should we do with this information
You’re someone who has been biologically led to watching these videos so most likely, you’re biologically prone to deep thinking, so most likely you’re able to become empathetic towards all humans ☮️💜
@@mcd5478Well done!
Yeap another comment ! Hope people who believe or worship are listening to this episode and understand why religions hack our brains through flags or territories.
@RESPECT " EARN " KNOWING
" WHO YOU BECOME" needs no
Explanation " RARE " as long
FLY on the wall *** hidden
Meaning " YOU KNOW"
Robinson Kevin Lee Donald Wilson Ruth
Why were we given brains by our creator if there are no free thoughts?
You assume we have a creator, and what makes you think we don’t have free thoughts? Freedom to have thoughts and free will are different concepts.
@@taylorhildrum3878 If life is scripted/predetermined than there wouldn’t be any “free thoughts”
Do thoughts actually come from the brain? Do we really know that or do we just believe that?
@@mikepoor6397 The notion of lack-of-free-will is uncomfortable to conceptualize and embrace. It doesn't mean you don't think thoughts or make choices -- or at least you _think_ you make choices 😝-- and it doesn't mean life is scripted. Sapolsky explains the biology of it here: ruclips.net/video/xhobcj2K9v4/видео.html
A compelling example is the data about prisoners being granted parole. The longer it was after a meal, the more likely the judge would deny parole. I forget the numbers exactly but early in the morning or shortly after lunch a prisioner would be parolled something like 60% of the time and just before lunch or the end of the day it would close to 0%. Free will says that the judge's mood, how much sleep they got the night before, degree of hunger, whether or not s/he had a fight with their spouse/kids or got a parking ticket would have no affect on the judgement but the fact that these factors _do_ have influence on behavior means you're not really driving the bus.
The discussion in this podcast about the brain scan results tells the same story -- Mother Nature is driving the bus.
@@mikepoor6397 We are in most cases free to have thoughts, but our thoughts are pre determined. You don’t choose the thoughts that you have but your still free to have thoughts. In most scenarios, we’re not in a position where we are prevented from having thoughts.
stop watching CNN
He lost me at vaccines
you lost me at vaccines too
😂😂😂🙄 most likely, you would not be alive if vaccines were not invented