Sam Harris argues that the feeling of conscious agency is a biological illusion. He relies on neuroscience and logic to demonstrate that human thoughts and intentions emerge from prior causes—namely brain chemistry and environmental luck—over which we have no control. Using examples like the Libet experiments, which show motor decisions forming in the brain before a person is aware of them, Harris claims we do not choose our preferences or next thoughts. This physiological reality eliminates the possibility of being the ultimate source of our actions.
This book is for readers interested in the intersection of criminal justice, ethics, and cognitive science. They read it to understand how the absence of free will necessitates a shift from retributive punishment to preventative rehabilitation. The reader walks away with a framework for viewing human behavior as a natural phenomenon and a rationale for replacing individual blame with a more objective, cause-and-effect understanding of social stability and personal identity.
Deep; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2012
- Language
- EN
