People seem to be wondering what the takeaways can be from this point of view. Even if every decision we make can ultimately be traced back to some quirk of our genes or environment that we didn't choose… so what? We still have to live, don't we? We still have to assign blame and responsibility, punish criminals, reward the successful, etc.

Sure, but we can do more than that. We can increase our compassion for our fellow humans.

I met someone recently who had a very tough childhood. Her mother didn't want her. She was physically and psychologically abused. Her parents discouraged everything she ever tried. She was neglected and abandoned and had to raise her younger siblings by herself. This is stuff you don't just "get over," and yet she's doing very well for herself.

All I could think was gosh, what a different upbringing than mine. The adults in my life kept me safe, made me feel loved, supported me, and inspired my confidence in myself. And while I can still be proud of many of the things I've done in life, it's grounding to put them in perspective and accept that the playing field is not level. It never will be. Having more compassion for others and more skepticism toward (and thus gratitude for) our own accomplishments is, in my opinion, a healthier and more fulfilling way to live.