if we don't create our own brain
we can't truly be responsible for the
choices that follow from it the idea
that we can be I like to call the myth
of responsibility so yes we make choices
but we do so with a brain that we didn't
choose in circumstances not of our
making of course we can decide to change
aspects of who we are and the way that
we live our life but the way in which we
want to change and our success in doing
so will be determined by how we already
are as a result of genes and experience
the implications are far-reaching
whether with a star pupil or a dropout
motivated or lazy disciplined or
distracted it's all ultimately a matter
of luck in the end luck is what
separates the rich from the poor the
saint from the sinner a prisoner from
the judge the powerful from the
powerless so notions of credit blame
punishment and responsibility cease to
make much sense but not everyone agrees
these ideas ring particular to the
systems of power and privilege that
dominate our world but it's worth
pointing out that this view is
increasingly taken for granted in the
scientific community and it's been
endorsed by some of the greatest minds
in history so does all this mean that
free will is an illusion well it all
depends on how we define it if free will
refers to the ability to act in
accordance with the beliefs and values
we hold to employ reason and learn from
our mistakes and it's certainly within
our grasp but a free will is a capacity
to be truly responsible for our actions
and no we don't have it now if ultimate
responsibility is a myth it follows that
no one is truly blameworthy of course it
doesn't mean we should let violent
criminals or corrupt bankers walk free
we still have a right to defend society
from those who pose a dangerous threat
and it's still important to establish
incentives for socially beneficial
behavior the trouble is the more we
pretend that lawbreakers truly
responsible for their actions the more
we blind ourselves to the deeper causes
of their behavior and this just
increases the chances of reproducing
conditions are enabled that behavior to
occur at the pet rating these conditions
poverty inequality corruption is always
the deeper crime and the same that
principle applies to each of us
we can't take credit for being more
virtuous dedicated or courageous than
anyone else luck has been the decisive
factor in the life every person that's
ever lived yet the myth is continually
reinforced by major religions with
positive psychology bestsellers by the
courts and by much of our political
culture without a doubt it's a highly
convenient way to justify extreme
inequality inequality of wealth and
power
if poorer nations in the global south
can be blamed for their poverty if
addict refugees prisoners of homeless
the sick and unemployed can be blamed
for their predicament and social and
economic systems are easily excused the
responsibilty myth makes it seem that
people get what they deserve it helps to
justify inequality and economic system
that produces it when you realize that
had you lived someone else's life you'd
be doing exactly what they're doing
profound equality emerges one that
prevents us from putting ourselves in
any deep sense above or below anyone
else this kind of empathy can be a
revolutionary force for good that kind
of empathy when multiplied across
society is a powerful liberating force
which in this time of turmoil and crisis
is our best chance of turning conflict
into peace division into unity and hate
into compassion