The Fifth Ape (4/5) - Richard Dawkins

Fourth (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

Tags:

• IVF
• Sperm
• Donors
• Genetics
• Mothers
• DNA
• Fittest
• Chimps
• Chimpanzees
• Altruism
• Morality
• Darwin
• Darwinism
• Darwinian
• Evolution
• Nature
• Science
• Biology
• Animals
• Primates
• Apes
• Humans
• Species
• Mammals
• Genes
• Struggle
• God
• Allah
• Faith
• Atheism
• Religion
• Fertilisation
• Sex

[yocanbanconit]

I thought it was always known that alturism/cooperation was a survival trait among humans and many other species, a result of nature/evolution. It's just obvious. No one knew that until Dawkins told them in the '70s?

[dawkinschannel]

Yup, but to less people want to listen to him, sad enough. "Lalalalalalalalala (i see the truth explained right before my eyes...) Lalalalalalalalalala (...but i want to keep my old fairytales without any proof to believe in)... Lalalalalalalalala..."

[GBart]

"they go for the nicest guy"

Well why doesn't that happen when women are looking for actual sexual partners??? >:(

[dancepiglover]

@yocanbanconit We are "social animals," as they say. Humans need other humans to survive. We each do our part (people growing food, people making our clothes, etc.) in society and we have a better chance at survival than to try to everything oneself. We would have to be kind to each other to live in such a society.

[sushanalone]

@GBart not being a sexist but its human nature to live with the nicest person but have sex with the sexiest, men or women irrespective.

[Nuratar]

@GBart It may be due to the fact, that who you want to bang is not always who you want to have a child with... sad but true.

[reghin79]

I said this in a previous clip before hearing what he has to say in this video:

{ Not "altruism", but rather a sort of, and I can't stress this enough, sort of: "utilitarianism" = maintaining the herd intact and parasite free for self preservation purposes. It has nothing to do with the decietful notion of "altruism", which is a large brain man's rationalization, one of which religious thinkers and moral philosophers speak extensively.

No gift is free. We give in order to receive. }

Nevermind.

[adi87tya]

@GBart Well...that's just a stage of life. Women in their 30s who're looking to actually settle down will probably go for nicer guys.

[kelco93]

Mummy, what's my daddy like?

Well dear, all I know is, he is a wanker!

[MeepullStewray]

I'm glad I defy the average sexual expectations

[shcnoozlebop]

@PrimitiveByNature i suppose the more guys are told skinnier is healthier the more they'll want that type?

[PrimitiveByNature]

@szapryanov3 It's kind of ironic, I remember reading an article about men in certain cultures who prefered heavier women because they were more likely to survive hard times. In wealthy developed countries it's quite the opposite(in a sickening unreal way) Goes to show how different ideals are influenced by circumstance/enviroment I guess.

[Rahavin1]

@GBart Ive gotten laid more since I started treating women like objects.

Dont know why