The Fifth Ape (2/5) - Richard Dawkins

Second (of five) part of the 2008 Channel-4 documentary 'The Fifth Ape'. The documentary is part of the series 'The Genius of Darwin'. In this episode Richard Dawkins deals with some of the philosophical and social ramifications of the theory of evolution.

Dawkins starts out in Kenya, speaking with palaeontologist Richard Leakey. He then visits Christ is the Answer Ministries, Kenya's largest Pentecostal church, to interview Bishop Bonifes Adoyo. Adoyo has led the movement to press Kenya's national museum to sideline its collection of hominid bones pointing to man's evolution from ape to human. The collection includes the Turkana Boy discovered by Kamoya Kimeu, a member of a team led by Richard Leakey in 1984.

Dawkins discusses social darwinism and eugenics, explaining how these are not versions of natural selection, and that "Darwin has been wrongly tainted".

He then meets with evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker to discuss how morals can be compatible with natural selection. He goes on to explaining sexual selection, with peafowls as an example. To find out whether sexual selection plays a role for altruism and kindness among humans, he visits women who are looking for sperm donors, as well as a sperm bank manager. Dawkins also explains kin selection and selfish genes.

Category:

Science & Technology

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[Mikeybetts]

i know faith won't move mountains

but i've seen what it can do to skyscrapers

[adi87tya]

@FaaarLeft Not quite. First of all "black" or "white" are not races. Even amongst African "black" people there are tribes like the Khoisan -- who have mixed features of asian, european and african facial structures. Asian people have a certain facial structure that may seem apelike to some people, but some European races have that too. We're all human, and we're all the same.

[SeedsOfHatred]

@PrincessTS01 That's an interesting thought, actually.

[Akka225]

Ok, I dont get it, why are we the fifth ape? There are chimps, gorillas, orangutans, ??? and humans. What du I miss? Or do I get it all wrong?

[ToadsMGodes]

@adi87tya I'm not human, and your comment offends me. I'm a Reptilian Buttlord. now we must fight to the death sir.

[keasy84]

Wow, that bishop was a very simple minded individual

[PrincessTS01]

Humanity's evolution is beginning to change us again and separate us as misinformation of Religion will pool their genes in a separate direction.

[NorthCitySider]

Asking what the goal of evolution is is like asking what the goal of erosion is.

[albert12256]

if we are made in the image of god then god is an ape

[ptango666]

Shouldn´t christians honor their parents/ancestors instead of denying them?!

[GODLESS24]

death is the center of religion. people are so afraid to die that it makes them believe stupid shit.

[USMarineRifleman0311]

Humans denying their roots are like kids in embarrasment of their parents at school