[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.27,0:00:13.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have been thinking a lot lately\Nabout the following question:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.88,0:00:16.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what would happen\Nif we came to disbelieve in free will?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.80,0:00:19.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What would this mean\Nfor our interpersonal relationships,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.59,0:00:22.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,society, morality, meaning in the law?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.13,0:00:25.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, would giving up the belief\Nin free will have dire consequences
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.86,0:00:27.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for society or something?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.57,0:00:30.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or would it rather have\Na humanizing effect
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.11,0:00:31.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on our practices and polices,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.91,0:00:34.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,freeing us from the negative effects\Nof belief in free will?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.90,0:00:36.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I would like to propose today
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.60,0:00:39.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that the belief in free will\Nrather than being a good thing
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.56,0:00:42.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,actually has a dark side\Nand that we'd be better off without it.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.65,0:00:44.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know this is counterintuitive.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.65,0:00:47.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many people fear that life\Nwithout free will lead to nihilism,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.60,0:00:51.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there'd be no reason to go on,\Nor that it would undermine morality.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.37,0:00:53.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or that we will just let\Ncriminals run free
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.70,0:00:56.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since there'd be no moral responsibility.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.56,0:00:59.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I would like to paint\Na different picture for you today.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.47,0:01:01.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It begins with the idea\Nof free will skepticism.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.86,0:01:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I am a free will skeptic.\NI deny the existence of free will.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.22,0:01:08.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Free will skeptics maintain\Nthat who we are, what we do,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.50,0:01:11.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is ultimately the result of factors\Nbeyond our control,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.46,0:01:12.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and because of this,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.73,0:01:16.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are never morally responsible for\Nour actions in the basic desert sense
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.50,0:01:21.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is the sense that would make us\Ntruly deserving of praise and blame.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.00,0:01:24.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Historically, there have been a number\Nof philosophical and scientific arguments
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.84,0:01:26.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for free will skepticism,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.17,0:01:29.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've promoted\Nthese arguments in my own work,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.10,0:01:32.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I'm not here today to try\Nto convince you that you lack free will.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.49,0:01:33.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not my goal.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.94,0:01:36.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm actually interested\Nin a slightly different question:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.70,0:01:39.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what would happen if we came\Nto accept this perspective?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.37,0:01:43.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What would happen, practically speaking,\Nif we came to disbelieve in free will?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.20,0:01:46.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Would it be, on the whole,\Na good thing or a bad thing?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.22,0:01:48.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's here that I'm an optimist.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.39,0:01:51.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am optimistic about the prospects\Nof life without free will.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.39,0:01:53.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I call myself an optimistic skeptic.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.36,0:01:55.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As an optimistic skeptic,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.83,0:01:57.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I maintain that life without free will
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.72,0:01:59.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not only possible\Nbut that it's preferable.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.95,0:02:01.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Prospects of finding meaning in life
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.77,0:02:04.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and sustaining good interpersonal\Nrelationships, for example,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.74,0:02:06.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would not be threatened.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.18,0:02:08.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although certain systems of punishment
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.11,0:02:11.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like those based on the model\Nof retribution or just deserts
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.03,0:02:12.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would be ruled out;
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.33,0:02:15.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,preventive detention and rehabilitation\Nprograms would still be justified.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.81,0:02:18.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I will say a little bit more\Nabout these in a moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.32,0:02:20.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So as an optimistic skeptic,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.12,0:02:24.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I maintain that life without free will\Nmay actually be good for our well being,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.55,0:02:26.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and our relationships with others,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.20,0:02:29.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since it could tend to eradicate\Nan often destructive form of moral anger,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.70,0:02:31.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a kind of moral anger
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.28,0:02:35.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's corrosive to our relationships\Nand to our social policies.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.32,0:02:39.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So to better understand\Nthe dark side of free will,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.45,0:02:41.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what I want to do is just talk about
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.37,0:02:44.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some recent empirical work\Nin moral political physiology.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.33,0:02:46.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What this work has done has actually shown
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.78,0:02:50.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there is a number of interesting\Nand potentially troubling correlations
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.58,0:02:52.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the belief in free will
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.32,0:02:55.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and people's other moral religious\Nand political beliefs.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.04,0:02:58.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In particular, what they found is\Nthat free will beliefs are correlated
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.43,0:03:01.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with higher levels\Nof religiosity, punitiveness,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.57,0:03:04.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a number of conservative\Nbeliefs in attitude,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.08,0:03:06.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,such as just world belief\Nand right wing authoritarianism.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.80,0:03:09.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am only going to focus on\Ntwo of these today,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.14,0:03:12.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is the connection between the belief\Nin free will and punitiveness,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.56,0:03:16.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that between the belief in free will\Nand what's called just world belief.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.30,0:03:18.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we take punitiveness for example.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.80,0:03:22.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What this research has shown is\Nthat where believe in free will is strong,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.38,0:03:24.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we see increased punitiveness,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.06,0:03:27.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is people are more likely to call\Nfor harsher forms of punishment
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.43,0:03:29.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a number of different scenarios.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.14,0:03:32.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this makes sense:\Nif you think people possess free will,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.14,0:03:35.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then you believe they justly deserve to\Nbe praised and blamed for their actions.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.97,0:03:40.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if they engage in an immoral act, you want\Nto see them get their just deserts, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.03,0:03:42.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's very close\Nto a notion of retribution:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.10,0:03:45.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you want to inflict harm on them\Nfor the harm they've inflicted on others.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.83,0:03:48.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the downside of this is, again,\Nyou can create a moral anger
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.83,0:03:53.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's destructive to our relationships\Nwith others and to our social policies.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.14,0:03:55.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So consider this on a macro level,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.56,0:03:59.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,belief in free will is relatively strong\Nin the United States.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.73,0:04:01.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, it's built right\Ninto the mythology
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.91,0:04:05.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the rugged individual,\Nthe self-made man, the causa Sui,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.02,0:04:07.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the person that can pull themselves up\Nfrom the bootstraps
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.88,0:04:10.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and overcome all\Nof their life circumstances.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.04,0:04:12.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But because we are\Nso committed to this belief,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.32,0:04:14.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we are also a relatively punitive society.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:14.79,0:04:16.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Consider this one simple fact:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.99,0:04:20.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the United States makes up about 5%\Nof the world's population,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.31,0:04:23.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yet it incarcerates\N25% of the world's prisoners.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.60,0:04:26.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I will say that again\Nbecause it's a rather startling statistic:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.66,0:04:30.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we make up a relatively small sliver\Nof the world's population, about 5%,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.38,0:04:33.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we house and imprison\N25% of the world's prisoners.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.95,0:04:37.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think it's controversial to say\Nour criminal justice system is broken.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.87,0:04:41.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is not working, not making us safer,\Nit's not reducing crime,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.66,0:04:44.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's, by no means, achieving\Nour desired social goals,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.40,0:04:47.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it is not reducing the rate\Nof recidivism, that is repeat crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.80,0:04:51.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But just perhaps, if we adopt\Nthe skeptical perspective,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.46,0:04:55.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we might be able to adopt more effective,\Nand more humane policies.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.74,0:04:57.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let me just briefly sketch quickly
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.80,0:05:00.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how a free will skeptic\Nmight address criminal behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.90,0:05:03.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a professor\N- not too far from here,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.53,0:05:06.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,his name is Derek Pereboom,\Nhe teaches at Cornell University;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.47,0:05:08.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he's a free will skeptic, like myself -
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.44,0:05:11.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he proposes a model\Nfor dealing with dangerous criminals
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.31,0:05:14.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,based on analogy with quarantine.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.10,0:05:18.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So people who contract contagious diseases\Ndo so for no fault of their own,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.03,0:05:20.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're not morally responsible\Nfor having done so;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.88,0:05:23.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we don't think they\Ndeserve to be punished.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.07,0:05:24.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we do feel justified
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.49,0:05:27.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in quarantining those individuals\Nfor the safety of society.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.35,0:05:29.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, we can say the same thing\Nfor dangerous criminals
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.98,0:05:32.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is even you adopted\Nthe perspective that I am advocating,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.94,0:05:35.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you believe that individuals\Nare not ultimately responsible
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.93,0:05:37.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for becoming who they are,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.31,0:05:41.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we could still justify detaining those\Nindividuals for the safety of society.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.01,0:05:44.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if we did this, this would entail\Na number of major reforms,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.06,0:05:47.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all of which I think are actually\Nreally important and good.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.66,0:05:49.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For one, we'd have the duty
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.44,0:05:52.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the well-being\Nand rehabilitation of criminals,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.01,0:05:53.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just like you would have a duty
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.66,0:05:56.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to treat the person\Nin quarantine for their disease.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.24,0:05:59.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Secondly,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.73,0:06:05.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you couldn't treat those individuals\Ncruelly while being detained,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.93,0:06:10.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just like you couldn't treat cruelly\Nthe people we are holding in quarantine.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.26,0:06:13.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thirdly, if there are less severe\Nforms of punishment available,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.32,0:06:16.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we'd have to opt for\Nthose less severe forms of punishment
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.16,0:06:19.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that might entail rethinking\Nsome of our harsher sentencing laws,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.42,0:06:22.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some of our crueler forms\Nof punishment in super max prisons.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.62,0:06:23.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And lastly,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.68,0:06:27.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you are someone like myself,\Nyou think it's the causal circumstances
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.14,0:06:29.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that drive these behaviors\Nin the first place,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.38,0:06:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then free will skeptics would put\Ntheir money, resources and focus
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.55,0:06:35.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on addressing the systemic causes\Nthat lead to criminality:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.35,0:06:37.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wealth, inequality, educational inequity.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.41,0:06:39.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So instead of blaming people\Nand punishing them,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.68,0:06:43.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the tail-end, you'd try to prevent\Nthe criminal behavior in the first place.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.49,0:06:44.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.84,0:06:46.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.00,0:06:50.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not only do I think free will skeptics can\Ndeal successfully with criminal behaviors,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.54,0:06:53.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think they could do so\Nmore humanely and more effectively.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.40,0:06:55.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let me switch over\Nto the other belief I mentioned:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.98,0:06:58.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,belief in free will has also been shown\Nthrough this research
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.91,0:07:01.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to correlate with what is known\Nas just world belief.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.47,0:07:02.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what is it?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.60,0:07:05.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fundamentally, it is the belief\Nthat the world is just,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.34,0:07:08.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,good things happen to good people,\Nand bad things happen to bad people.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.94,0:07:12.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But also, fundamentally,\Nit's a blame-the-victim approach
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.38,0:07:15.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since it maintains that individuals\Njustly deserve what they get,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.45,0:07:19.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that those who meet misfortune\Nhave often brought it them on themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.21,0:07:23.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the 1960s, psychologists developed\Nwhat is known as just world belief scale.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.64,0:07:26.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was meant to design people's commitment\Nto this type of belief,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.91,0:07:30.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it was also particularly designed to\Ncapture the natural tendency people have
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.75,0:07:33.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to blame those who meet misfortune\Nfor their own circumstances.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.84,0:07:38.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Over the years, what they found\Nis that high scores on this belief,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.61,0:07:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,correlate with the likelihood\Nof derogating innocent victims,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.90,0:07:44.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,trusting current institutions\Nand authorities,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.77,0:07:48.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and blaming the poor and praising\Nthe rich for their respective faiths.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.18,0:07:51.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I said, this is essentially\Na blame-the-victim approach;
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.20,0:07:53.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can see manifestations\Nof it all throughout society.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.96,0:07:55.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the more pernicious
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.27,0:07:58.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the tendency, both among\Nordinary folk and the legal system,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.35,0:08:00.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to blame rape victims\Nfor their own circumstances.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.78,0:08:01.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if the world is just,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.94,0:08:05.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and good things happen to good people,\Nand bad things happen to bad people,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.62,0:08:08.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to try to reconcile\Nsuch a horrific act as rape
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.39,0:08:10.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while preserving the belief\Nthat the world is just,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.77,0:08:13.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you turn that innocent victim\Ninto somebody that's guilty.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.57,0:08:15.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were dressed provocatively,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.31,0:08:17.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they were walking\Nwhere they shouldn't had been walking.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.98,0:08:20.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another manifestation\Nof this blame-the-victim approach
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.56,0:08:22.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could be seen throughout society.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.21,0:08:25.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, blaming those in poverty\Nfor their own circumstances.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.35,0:08:27.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Claiming that those on welfare\Nare lazy or mooches.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.80,0:08:31.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or blaming educational inequity on\Nthe children and the parents themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.35,0:08:34.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we all know, at least on a more\Nrational deliberate moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.76,0:08:36.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the world is not just,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.38,0:08:39.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that the lottery of life\Nis not always fair.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.11,0:08:42.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We need to acknowledge the role\Nthat luck plays in our lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.05,0:08:44.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who we are, and how we turn out, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.48,0:08:47.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don't all have equal starting points.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.06,0:08:49.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As I said in the beginning,\NI'm an optimist,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.44,0:08:52.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am optimistic that if we could adopt\Nthis skeptical perspective,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.59,0:08:54.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we may be able to free ourselves
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.16,0:08:56.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from some of these beliefs\Nand harmful tendencies.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.59,0:08:58.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, there was\Na recent study that came out
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.89,0:09:00.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Journal of Psychological Science
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.84,0:09:03.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that found that by reducing\Npeople's beliefs in free will,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.61,0:09:05.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it actually made them less punitive,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.40,0:09:09.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and call for less harsh forms of treatment\Nin a number of hypothetical scenarios.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.27,0:09:12.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This tells me two things: one,\Nit reaffirms what I was saying earlier,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.62,0:09:16.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that where believe in free will is strong\Nas we see increased punitiveness,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.15,0:09:17.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it also provides hopes to me
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.84,0:09:21.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we can perhaps relinquish ourselves\Non some of these more harmful beliefs
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.60,0:09:25.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and by doing so, loose some\Nof that moral anger I've been discussing.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.03,0:09:27.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So my proposal is rather simple.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.05,0:09:30.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's not fear free will skepticism.\NLet's embrace it.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.47,0:09:32.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's give up the belief\Nin free will, and with it,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.95,0:09:36.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the pernicious belief in just-deserts,\Nthat people justly deserve what they get.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.77,0:09:38.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's leave this adequate notion behind,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.78,0:09:41.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lose our moral anger\Nand stop blaming the victim.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.19,0:09:43.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, let's turn our attention\Nto the difficult task
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.78,0:09:45.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of addressing the causes that lead
Dialogue: 0,0:09:45.54,0:09:49.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to criminality, to wealth inequity,\Nand educational inequity.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.52,0:09:52.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once we relinquish the belief\Nin free will, this will allow us
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.53,0:09:55.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to look more clearly at the causes\Nand more deeply at the systems
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.64,0:09:57.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that shape individuals and their behavior,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.75,0:10:01.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this will allow us to adopt\Nmore humane and more effective policies
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.15,0:10:03.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in education, criminal justice,\Nand social policies.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.61,0:10:04.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.92,0:10:06.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)