Your mother’s socio-economic status at the time of your birth. Whether your ancestors raised crops or led camels through the desert. The smell of the room you’re in when you’re making a decision–all of these things, says neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky, combine to affect your behavior, as well as everything in between. And if you’re wondering […] The post Robert Sapolsky on Determinism, Free Will, and Responsibility appeared first on Econlib.

When Alexandra Hudson arrived in Washington, D.C., she discovered that outward behavior is not always a reflection of a person’s character. Her disillusionment led to an in-depth exploration of the historical concept and practice of civility, along with a newfound appreciation for not only empathy, but also debate and disagreement in a healthy society. Listen as […] The post Alexandra Hudson on the Soul of Civility appeared first on Econlib.

How much do we remember of what we learn in school or from conversation? Psychologist Adam Mastroianni says: from little to nothing much. What do our brains retain? Mastroianni argues that often it’s a mix of emotions, meanings, and values that end up shaping who we are, what Mastroianni calls “vibes.” Listen as he and […] The post Adam Mastroianni on Learning and Mostly Forgetting appeared first on Econlib.

When then-hedge fund manager Elie Hassenfeld began his philanthropic journey in 2006, he knew that he wanted to get the most charitable bang for his buck. He quickly realized, however, that detailed data on charitable impact simply didn’t exist. So he and Holden Karnovsky founded GiveWell, an organization inspired by effective altruism that identifies the […] The post Elie Hassenfeld on GiveWell appeared first on Econlib.

We spend too much of our health care focus on lifespan and not enough on healthspan–the quality of our life as we get older. So argues Dr. Peter Attia, author of Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity. Attia speaks with EconTalk’s Russ Roberts about what kills us, what slows us down as we age, […] The post Peter Attia on Lifespan, Healthspan, and Outlive appeared first on Econlib.

Adam Smith, portrayed in video production, An Animal that Trades. In the original version of a now classic thought experiment, five people are about to be killed by a runaway trolley. Would you divert the trolley knowing that your choice will kill a single innocent bystander? Listen as Michael Munger of Duke University argues that Adam Smith gave […] The post Michael Munger on How Adam Smith Solved the Trolley Problem appeared first on Econlib.

Do marathons kill people who aren’t in the race? Does when you’re born make you more likely to get the flu? And what’s the difference between a good doctor and a bad one? These are some of the questions Anupam Bapu Jena of Harvard University and EconTalk host Russ Roberts take up as they discuss […] The post Anupam Bapu Jena on Random Acts of Medicine appeared first on Econlib.

Can economics and better measurement help us understand racial disparities and suggest how to reduce or eliminate them? Economist Roland Fryer of Harvard University believes deeply in the power of data to help us understand how the world works and how we might change it. Listen as he tells EconTalk’s Russ Roberts of his devotion to this […] The post Roland Fryer on Race, Diversity, and Affirmative Action appeared first on Econlib.

Early detection of cancer seems like a very good idea. But it’s a lot more complicated than it seems. Oncologist and epidemiologist Vinay Prasad of the University of California, San Francisco talks to EconTalk’s Russ Roberts about why many tests to detect cancer do little or nothing to extend lifespan. The post Vinay Prasad on Cancer Screening appeared first on Econlib.

Historian and author Walter Russell Mead of Bard College and the Hudson Institute talks with EconTalk’s Russ Roberts about how innovation and religion can help us make sense of the current state of the world. The post Walter Russell Mead on Innovation, Religion, and the State of the World appeared first on Econlib.