Evolutionary Perspectives (Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennet, Steven Pinker, Jared Diamond and Douglas Adams) 3of4

Douglas Adams moderates a discussion between Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Steven Pinker and Jared Diamond. The discussion focuses on attempts to apply darwinian principles and explanations to areas other than biology, such as cosmology, language and psychology, as well as pointing out areas that are less likely to have darwinian explanations. Towards the end, the discussion turns to issues of religion and the psychology of belief and imagination.

Each of the speakers gave a short lecture before the discussion, which can be found here (links to the first part of each):

Douglas Adams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msAF_MDYWNE

Richard Dawkins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdBOb9tQjNU

Daniel Dennett: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psBwnE0ByUw

Stephen Pinker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVrb5ClvDho

Jared Diamond: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV_P1VGqMBo



Found here:
http://www.reitstoen.com/multimedia.php

Direct Link (streaming real-media):
http://www.web-for-vision.com:8080/ramgen/SPIEGEL/Wfv_Isdn.smil

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• dawkins
• dennett
• pinker
• douglas
• adams
• darwinian
• evolution
• psychology
• memetics
• religion

[677boston]

I can't believe that Pinker says:

"It may be that some future analysis shows that music serves some reproduction function - I can't see that it does"

Aren't the reproductive benefits obvious?Justin Timberlake doesn't seem to have a hard time attracting ladies.

The reproductive function of art/music/creativity was argued pretty persuasively in Miller's Mating Mind. Is Pinker not aware of the theory or is he just rejecting it? It's a lot more parsimonious than his ideas, I think.

[theinquisitor]

Well to be fair, that book seems to have been published years after this video was recorded (1998).

Also, he's not rejecting the idea, he says that it may be true, but that he hasn't been convinced yet.

I think the argument from Justin Timberlake might be a bit thin though, as it could just as easily be the fame and fortune that is attractive. Popularity in sports and movies seems to attract similar attention. Without isolating the variables, it's difficult to draw conclusions.

[adorianvlad]

inquisitor, the quality of your last videos (the ones that I'm aware of) are very poor.

youtube videos are as bad as they are when working properly, now on top of that you have all this noise and bad image? Sorry but I am just giving you a tip here my friend

[theinquisitor]

Unfortunately the source video was bad quality to start with (link to source in description box). It was recorded back in 1998 in real media format when video compression was poor and bandwidth was low, and so the resolution was about 192x144 and blocky. Converting it to divx video for editing and then youtube upload conversion further degraded the image. It was either this or just a slideshow while they're talking. My other videos not from this source are of good quality.

[Phi1618033]

Too much brilliance in one room.

[anything4ai]

Bad quality video is far better than no video at all. I listen to these without looking at the screen much anyway.

[Zando24]

@theinquisitor Well I am more attracted to musicians that actresses. Mostly because I am a musician myself, and just find them alot sexier lol. I suppose in that sense, what one appreciates, they will appreciate in other people. That could be music for alot of people

[fairiebee]

Justin Timberlake is attractive? I guess that depends on whether you're asking a woman with an (evolved) brain.

[CytherLynx]

@doctorfreakus please don't just assume because most of these people are 'left' of politics (i think), that 'left' politics is the correct choice.

i read the selfish gene, and it affected my view of life profoundly.

but i also hold positions like Austrian economics to be analogical to being the 'evolutionary theory' of economics, with communism holding the position of creationism

don't be a liberal (US defined) OR conservative. be a classical libertarian. Bastiat, not Marx.

lol rant much?

[CytherLynx]

dawkin's and pinker are my favorite. but only because i have read their books, i'll get to the others.

[marcotenshi]

@677boston Music =/= creativity

Music is a byproduct of evolution. As is writing and reading.

[doctorfreakus]

So, wow, yeah. They sound so progressive and intelligent until they talk about music. Bad habit? That's like asking why do people use English or German. Music is a language that can transfer info faster than words. A stupid tune is like a stupid sentence, not a bad habit(altho for some...)Like I said below, didn't Douglas address this unfortunate shortcoming of clinical scientists/researchers in HHGTTG? I just don't see how bellydancing is going to help prolong the species...

[doctorfreakus]

@hhiippiittyy tell that to Ayn Rand(she might bitecha

[doctorfreakus]

@677boston I think Douglas Adams answered this in reverse(as usual). Isn't there a line towards the beginning of Hitchhiker's "...but mostly because the scientists never got invited to those kind of parties..." -LOL