Genetics and the Brain
Biology. Psychology. 2025/02/15
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This episode is with Kevin Mitchell. He is an associate professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin, where he investigates how genetic variations influence neural wiring, cognition, and conditions like autism and schizophrenia. Kevin is also the author of Innate: How the Wiring of Our Brains Shapes Who We Are and Free Agents: How Evolution Gave Us Free Will. Here, we discuss the laws of biology and the nature of free will. Kevin also shares insights on agency as a defining feature of life, the meaning of self, and the evolution of perception.
About the guest
Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:55 Biology vs. Chemistry & Physics
00:04:02 Reductionism in Science
00:16:09 Emergence and Evolution
00:26:59 Free Will Discussion
00:41:42 Cognition & System Irreducibility
00:44:03 Genetics & Psychological Predispositions
00:55:17 Complexity of Interactions
01:04:39 Engineering Free Will
01:07:38 Social Impacts of Free Will
01:11:53 Long-term Free Will & Decisions