"Determined" by Robert Sapolsky

This book explores the implications of a world without free will. I know there are still believers that free will exists, as does Robert, so he first goes over the main arguments for and against this hypothesis. Then, when the illusion of free will is shattered, he outlines how to live and what to expect in a world where we essentially have no choice. Except, of course, we do have a choice. The thing is, the choice is pre-determined.

The author makes a case for a higher-level Laplace's demon. Yet instead of breaking down because of quantum randomness, the demon simply retroactively draws lines from the current state to all the previous states of the universe. Suddenly, the demon doesn't predict the future but represents that the past pre-determined the present.

Everything that happened to you before brought you to reading these words. Your genes, upbringing, and even your parents' habits before you were born got you here.

This begs the question: did you arrive at this point willingly or through a complex mixture of chaotic events? Of course, through a complex mixture of chaotic events. Surely, you chose the path you travelled, but even your choice was affected (and, in a sense, pre-determined) by all the factors in the past.

Now, imagine you commit a crime. Are you responsible for it? Most likely, not—the universe, with its chaos, brought you to this point. Then, should you be punished? In the authors' (and mine) opinion, no. So, do criminals just run free? Again, no—instead, we treat illegal behaviour as we treat diseases that people didn't choose. We quarantine and treat the diseases. Comparing the prison system in Norway and the USA with the corresponding success rates, we can conclude that it all comes together in a coherent argument.

Overall, this book changed my opinion, and I'd love to recommend it to everyone!