When I first read Hope Reese’s article “Robert Sapolsky Doesn’t Believe in Free Will,” I wasn’t sure what to think. She explained that everything we do comes from biology and environment instead of free will (Reese 2023). At first, that idea felt strange and even disappointing, because it made me question whether my own choices really belonged to me. But the more I reflected on it, the more I saw how habits, emotions, and impulses shape my decisions without me realizing. I do not think Sapolsky wants people to feel powerless. I think he wants us to approach people with more patience and understanding.
Reese presented Sapolsky’s ideas clearly by showing how his argument is rooted from science, not just opinions. She writes that Sapolsky believes humans are “the cumulative biological and environmental luck over which we had no control” (Reese 2023). She also describes research that indicates the brain makes decisions before we are aware of choosing. These examples helped me understand the reasoning behind his claims, It also helped me see that Sapolsky was not trying to shock people he is using years of studying behavior to explain why people act the way they do (Sapolsky 2023).
One aspect I liked about Reese’s writing is how calm, simple and approachable it is. She does not force her opinion on the reader, but lets voice and gives us space to think. She even describes him as friendly and lively, which makes his ideas feel more human and less intimidating. Her writing style reminded me that meaningful ideas do not need to be told in complicates languages to have impact.
As I was wrote my draft, I wanted to be honest about my initial confusion while also being curious. I always wondered why people judge each other so quickly especially online. When Sapolsky suggested our choices come from biology and our environment, it made me think again about judgment and forgiveness. If people do not fully control who they become, maybe it makes more sense to understand them instead of blaming them. That idea connected strongly to my own experiences andmade the topic feel personal to write about.
Sapolsky's ideas also made me think about how much technology influences us. I can scroll on my phone and it will know what videos I want to watch and what I want to buy. Sometimes it feels like it knows what I will do before I do it. When Sapolsky compares life to “watching a movie where the ending is already known,” I started to understand in a dfferent way. Sometimes I act on autopilot without thinking. I still want to believe I am making real choices, but I understand why he argues the opposite.
Another part of Sapolsky’s argument that stood out to me was his statement about emotions and punishment. If free will does not truly exist, then how we normally blame people in the way we usually do might not make sense. That perspective made me question why society spends so much time judging others when so much of who we are comes from things we never chose. This idea made me see why sapolsky argues for compassion.
Reese does an excellent job at presenting the ideas without overwhelming the reader, she allows the argument unfold slowly and clearly. Writing this made me realize that sometimes the point of writing is not to solve everything. It is to think through ideas and to try to understand yourself better. If most of who we are is already shaped for us what does it mean when we try to change or evolve on ur own? I don’t know the full answer but the most important part is asking the question.
Works Cited
Works Cited Reese, Hope. “Robert Sapolsky Doesn’t Believe in Free Will. (But Feel Free to Disagree.)." The New York Times, 16 Oct. 2023. Sapolsky, Robert. Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will. Penguin Press, 2023.
Chizitere Anigbogu is a student at Houston Community College who loves to explore how science and everyday life choices connect. She enjoys thinking and writing about big ideas and how they impact our everyday life.