Original Sin: On the Genetics of Vice, the Problem of Blame, and the Future of Forgiveness

Kathryn Paige Harden, a leading scientist studying how DNA shapes differences in temperament, temptation, and behavior, explores how genetics complicates our understanding of blame, punishment, and moral responsibility. Drawing on insights from her work as a daughter, mother, wife, and scientist alongside cutting-edge research in genetics and psychology, Harden examines fundamental questions about modern life: How do we take responsibility for who we become when shaped by both biology and experience? How should we respond when people harm each other or themselves? Has science made guilt obsolete? Navigating addiction, antisocial behavior, and violence, the book investigates how scientific understanding unsettles our concepts of wrongdoing and choice. Rather than absolving people of responsibility, Harden proposes reconsidering notions of fairness and blame in light of inherited biology. The result is an inquiry into accountability that challenges readers to imagine a more humane approach to responsibility—both personal and collective.