Ep3: Climbing Mount Improbable - Growing Up in the Universe - Richard Dawkins

http://richarddawkins.net/growingupin...

Oxford professor Richard Dawkins presents a series of lectures on life, the universe, and our place in it. With brilliance and clarity, Dawkins unravels an educational gem that will mesmerize young and old alike. Illuminating demonstrations, wildlife, virtual reality, and special guests (including Douglas Adams) all combine to make this collection a timeless classic.

The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for Children were founded by Michael Faraday in 1825, with himself as the inaugural lecturer. The 1991 lecturer was Richard Dawkins whose five one-hour lectures, originally televised by the BBC, are now available free online, courtesy of The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. The entire 5-hour program is also available on a 2-DVD set through our online store. http://richarddawkins.net/store/index...

The DVD includes subtitles in English, Spanish, French and Polish.

Read the transcript:
http://richarddawkins.net/GUITUtransc...

If you enjoy these free videos, please consider purchasing the DVD and/or making a donation to The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science to help us continue our work. Donate here: http://richarddawkinsfoundation.org/d...

Originally broadcast as The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for Children, 1991.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[idunnononame]

He's actually very nice to religious people, and even a bit gentle with their religious beliefs. I can't imagine what I would say if people said the things about my interests as they do about his. Imagine the mathematician confronted by people saying things like "Mathematics is just a theory" "I don't believe in mathematics" "Mathematics is stupid" "I don't believe there's enough evidence to conclude the existence of mathematics" "How dare you relate us to numbers", etc.

[bhsWD96]

I love Richard Dawkins but his shirt looks like he adapted camoflage for a ball pit at chuckie cheese.

[fullyawakened]

I love watching these older lectures by Dawkins. I feel like Dawkins might have continued to make many more programs like this for the benefit of us all if he didn't have religious lobbyists trying to destroy his image, career, and scientific proficiency. Now he must spend most of his time forming countermeasures to keep anti-evolutionist agendas from running (and ruining) the lives of these children which he obviously cares very much about. Imagine if he were free to do pure research instead!

[TheHoho001]

It is true, but through a series of gradual steps he has evolved into the man he is today.

[Dennis Pozniak]

Is it true that Dawkins is from LA and that he was a brutal gangbanger?

[Dennis Pozniak]

Evolution? HAHAHAHAhahaHAHAhaHAhaHAha jesus

[CrispyClaire]

I don't even know what that means, but it made me laugh :)

[JuanchoMan]

YAY, science

[mitko mitkov]

i am viewer 111,111 O_O

[Shane Michael]

Let me rephrase what you said: "Again I have no idea what you mean. I don't have time to say more ignorant bullshit. Please stop making me look dumb."

Can't say shit. Run away. Peace.

[logicCplusplus]

again you simply don't understand the problem. i don't have time to lecture you, so please refrain from any further responses to me.

[Shane Michael]

I understood what you were TRYING to say. I was just telling you that the WAY you said it was god damn dumb. You are comparing a natural process which in no way faces any resistance and simply happens to the idea of a human choosing to climb a mountain in real life without gear. The mountain does NOT represent how HARD something is. It represents the growth of the species. How can you compare a grueling ordeal that must be physically undertaken by a human to a representation of genetic growth?