Genetic determinism and free will

Abstract

Behavioral genetics, a concept that dates back to ancient times, but emerged as a distinct scientific discipline in the 1960s, examines the extent to which a particular gene or set of genes determines a person’s behavior and in its more modern iteration, evaluates the gene-environment interaction (G x E) on a particular behavioral phenotype [1,2]. Based on this concept, some research has implicated specific genes in aggression and criminal behavior and, as such, a debate has arisen over whether criminals could use, as a defense, the assertion that they have a genetic predisposition for criminal behavior. More recent research has moved away from attributing direct causality to genes, but some research still does suggest that genes can, at least to some extent, impact behavior in that they can influence whether or not someone becomes aggressive as a result of an abusive environment. Yet, sources within Judaism teach that all people have free choice. Rambam, for instance, in very strong language writes: Every man was endowed with a free will; if he desires to bend himself toward the good path and to be just, it is within the power of his hand to reach out for it, and if he desires to bend himself to a bad path and to be wicked it is within the power of his hand to reach out for it...Permit not your thought to dwell upon that which ridiculous fools of other peoples and a majority of asinine individuals among the children of Israel say, that the Holy One, blessed is He! decrees at the very embryonic state of every man whether he should be just or wicked. The matter is not so. Every man is capable of being as just as Moses our Master or as wicked as Jeroboam, wise or incony, merciful or human, miser or philanthropist, and so in all other tendencies [3].