Description

• Human action has multiple layers of causation. Our behavior is complicated. 
• It can’t be explained by biology and genes alone – as evolutionary biologists tend to do. And it can’t be explained by environment alone, as a sociologist might. 
• How we act and think depends on a subtle interplay between ancient urges and fears, social and cultural influences, and reasoning. 
• Sometimes, as Sapolsky explains in comprehensive detail, this can lead to the very worst actions in history – the blights of humanity – but he also offers hope. 
• As much as we are bound by aggressive behavior that is deeply wired into us, we can be equally influenced towards do-good, prosocial behaviors that maximize benefit for all, not only friends and family, but people that we don’t know and even people that we’ve never met. 
• Sapolsky’s key question is, how can we capitalize on these capacities, rather than those that lead towards aggression, hate and violence?

2:41 Part One: Causes of Behavior

10:20 Part Two: Genetics and Environment

19:00 Part Three: Free Will and Peace

HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEWS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE HERE:

"The Daily Show | Robert Sapolsky - How Science Influences Culture And Politics In 'Behave' - EXTENDED INTERVIEW"

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/49ky74/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-robert-sapolsky---how-science-influences-culture-and-politics-in--behave----extended-interview

"TedTalk | The biology of our best and worst selves"

https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_sapolsky_the_biology_of_our_best_and_worst_selves/transcript#t-463655

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Full Title: Behave

Year of Publication: 2017

Book Author: Robert Sapolsky

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