Determined: A science of life without free will

A few thoughts on top of my head (not a review or critique) - with a touch of humor - on a rather very good read by Robert. M Sapolsky

Admittedly, the book has a very interesting premise, mind blowing/ boggling at times …. I just don’t think the argument holds.

He firstly admits that genetics, neuroscience, endocrinology, evolutionary theory, psychology and science were never able/ can never disprove free will … BUT - and here is where i stared at the ceiling for God knows how long - “put all the pieces together and you can”....I don’t wanna be sarcastic, but dude!

I do agree with R. that the amount of variables that have a say/ control over our lives and behavior (ask someone who knows what's it like to keep bumping your head on a mute wall) are countless, and can even steer us in different directions, and happy happy happy, it all starts when you are just a fetus, aka: a piece of chewing gum, HOWEVER, there is a real line between having no say whatsoever in who you are/ your life and having limitations no matter how substantial.

The meat and potato

I’ll discuss one example he mentions: the hormone leptin (a hormone that regulates hunger and energy levels). We know that obese people and folks who struggle with food have Leptin issues, hence the argument that obesity is not a behavioral issue but destiny for lack of a better word.

I get it, I can swear that I have grossly dysregulated leptin levels, I eat way more than you’d ever ever imagine, I am almost always hungry, I cannot stop eating when I start, I eat fast, and I have a monster appetite. Food just hits all my hedonic/ pleasure centers .... I also get high on good food (i giggle for God's sake), how pathetic is this? very... but it's not me we are talking about, it's R.

So I do believe there are people who are destined to eat big steaks and people who love lettuce and chia seed pudding. Yet he is totally throwing the baby with the bath water.

Let me just say something here. Americans, who happen to lead the way in terms of research especially things related to all human behavior have this weird assumption that nothing existed before them yankees. So when things like paleo and carnivore are all the rage, their version of hunter gatherer cuisine is “ Beef ribeye”, eggs, butter ….etc all of which are from domesticated animals and only exist in parts of the world (don't get me wrong I'd eat those all day everyday, but again it's not me who is on trial here). Get the picture? Now back to leptin.

What this bro and a lot in the fitness industry kinda forget is that junk food never existed to start with and so whether one was getting leptin secretion by the bushel or not at all, this person will only eat what is locally available (could be bugs and bananas), natural whole food, that is seasonal and not deliverable 24/7 via meals on wheels. So yes some would be heavier than others, but obese? Don’t think so...doesn't that make obesity - and so many of our problems - a modern human invention?

If the premise is wrong, so is the argument.

Curtains closed ….