BIOLOGICAL DETERMINISM
From science emerge ideas worth exploring and values worth living by.
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One central idea that connects behavioral neuroscience and criminal justice is biological determinism. Understanding determinism, the notion that all outcomes, including human behavior, are caused by prior events and states, leads to a kinder, more forgiving and more rational understanding of behavior.
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Emphasizing biological and behavioral determinism can also help construct scientifically-informed policy changes for a fairer criminal justice system.
EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM
Accepting the aspiration of a healthy and happy life as a universal goal of living means cultivating happiness and empathy for all living beings.
The effective altruism movement fits the compassionate and utilitarian nature of determinism, as it is rooted in the idea that charitable giving should incorporate effectivity, rationality, and impartiality.
STOIC AFFECT
Fitting the theme of a just, connected, and happy living is the position stoic philosophy takes in dealing with cognition and behavior. Stoicism sees morality and goodness as a means of achieving eudaimonia: a well-lived life.
Anger is a central behavioral factor in individuals' involvement in the criminal justice system, but also more generally in influencing well-being. Stoicism observes “how much more harmful are the consequences of anger, than the circumstances that aroused it in us”.
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Mia is currently creating a picture book aiming to communicate Stoic ideas and solutions for anger.
