Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

Chapter 8 discusses the challenges that 21st-century science and technology pose to the liberal order, particularly the concepts of free will and individualism.

The book argues that the liberal belief in individual liberty hinges on the concept of free will, the idea that humans can make independent choices. However, contemporary science, particularly neurobiology and genetics, undermines this notion. It suggests that what we perceive as free will is actually the result of various deterministic or random processes in the brain, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Experiments using brain scanners can predict decisions before individuals are even aware of them, suggesting that the idea of free will might be an illusion.

The chapter introduces the distinction between the “experiencing self” and the “narrating self.” The experiencing self is the moment-to-moment consciousness, while the narrating self is the voice in the human head that weaves experiences into a coherent narrative. The narrating self, by focusing on peak experiences and outcomes, often distorts reality to create a narrative that makes sense. This has implications for an understanding of happiness, suffering, and memory.

Harari challenges the liberal concept of an individual as a single, unified entity.