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Determined: Life Without Free Will by Robert Sapolsky review – the hard science of decisions

a year ago
ADVANCED LEVEL READING, VOCABULARY AND CONVERSATION

I found this pretty interesting book review about Robert Sapolsky's new book. The book is called "Determined: Life Without Free Will".

I am sharing the link to the review and some basic questions about the text. Read the text for homework and answer the questions. Then discuss the topic with me in our next lesson.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/oct/24/determined-life-without-free-will-by-robert-sapolsky-review-the-hard-science-of-decisions




  1. How does the author describe the concept of free will and its impact on decision-making?
  2. What are some examples used in the text to illustrate the challenges associated with free will and determinism?
  3. Who is Robert Sapolsky, and what is his role in the context of the text?
  4. What term is used in the text to describe those who believe that although actions are determined, free will still exists?
  5. How does the author challenge the idea of "grit" and the development of willpower?
  6. What is the main argument against free will presented by Sapolsky in his book "Determined"?
  7. How does Sapolsky reconcile the absence of free will with moral judgment in his book?
  8. What does the author's description of Sapolsky's writing style reveal about the complexity of the topic?
  9. How does the author present the debate between free will and determinism within philosophical and scientific contexts?
  10. What is the potential impact of Sapolsky's arguments on people's perceptions and behaviors regarding free will and determinism?