--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever their conscious motives, these…" description: "\"“Whatever their conscious motives, these men cannot know why they are as they are. As sickening as I find their behavior, I have to admit that if I wer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28e/sam-harris-457_habits_whatever-their-conscious-motives-these-m_1399198.jpg" --- # Whatever their conscious motives, these men cannot know… ![“Whatever their conscious motives, these men cannot know why they are as they are. As sickening as I find their behavior, I have to admit that if I were to trade places with one of these men, atom for atom, I would be him: There is no extra part of me that could decide to see the world differently…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28e/sam-harris-457_habits_whatever-their-conscious-motives-these-m_1399198.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28e/sam-harris-457_habits_whatever-their-conscious-motives-these-m_1399198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28e/sam-harris-457_habits_whatever-their-conscious-motives-these-m_1399198.jpg) > ““Whatever their conscious motives, these men cannot know why they are as they are. As sickening as I find their behavior, I have to admit that if I were to trade places with one of these men, atom for atom, I would be him: There is no extra part of me that could decide to see the world differently or to resist the impulse to victimize other people. Even if you believe that every human being harbors an immortal soul, the problem of responsibility remains: I cannot take credit for the fact that I do not have the soul of psychopath. If I had truly been in Komisarjevsky's shoes on July 23,2007 - that is, if I had his genes and life experience and identical brain (or soul) in an identical state - I would have acted exactly as he did. There is simply no intellectually respectable position from which to deny this.”” [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that personal identity and moral responsibility are fully determined by genetics and environment, leaving no room for free will or soul. **In simple terms:** We are determined by biology and experience, not free will. Key Takeaway Accept that responsibility stems from deterministic factors. Themes determinism morality responsibility psychology Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - legal judgments - personal relationships - ethical debates - mental health treatment - public policy Key Concepts free will genetics environment identity moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Can we hold people accountable if actions are predetermined? - How does this view affect empathy toward offenders? A Different Perspective It may overlook the role of conscious reflection and societal influence on behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Immortal soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortal-soul/) [Life experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-experience/) [Men Atom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-atom-4898028/) [Motives Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motives-men-4898027/) [Psychopath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychopath/) [Psychopath Truly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychopath-truly-4898026/) [Soul Psychopath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul-psychopath-2157663/) ## Related quotes > [“Even if you believe that every human being harbors an immortal soul, the problem of responsibility remains: I cannot take credit for the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/even-if-you-believe-that-every-human-being-harbors-an-immortal-soul/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“I cannot take credit for the fact that I do not have the soul of a psychopath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/i-cannot-take-credit-for-the-fact-that-i-do-not-have-the-soul-of-a/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“The Maker knows the motives of men's hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-maker-knows-the-motives-of-men-s-hearts/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Everyone who has eyes to see can see that if the God of Abraham exists, He is an utter psychopath--and the God of Nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/everyone-who-has-eyes-to-see-can-see-that-if-the-god-of-abraham/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [When someone like myself points out the rather obvious and compelling evidence that God is cruel and unjust, because he visits suffering on innocent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/when-someone-like-myself-points-out-the-rather-obvious-and-compelling/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [I love Italian opera - it's so reckless. 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