Richard Dawkins On Genes, Memes, AI, Religion, and Life Beyond Earth [Ep. 454]

Richard Dawkins On Genes, Memes, AI, Religion, and Life Beyond Earth [Ep. 454]

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Episode
439 of 563
Duration
56min
Language
English
Format
Category
Non-fiction

Why are men's sex drives so strong? Can genetic information be destroyed? And why does the desert lizard have such intricate patterns?

I had the extraordinary privilege of exploring these topics with Richard Dawkins, one of the world’s most influential and thought-provoking scientists!

Dawkins is a renowned evolutionary biologist, zoologist, and author. He is also a prominent figure in New Atheism alongside Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens and is well known for his criticisms of creationism and intelligent design.

In our wide-ranging conversation, we explored the evolution of sex drive and aesthetic appreciation, genetics, the intersection of theoretical and experimental science, the potential of artificial intelligence, and more.

Tune in!

Key Takeaways:

00:00 Intro

01:56 Why is the sex drive in men so strong?

04:44 DNA, origin of life and panspermia

10:28 Is there life elsewhere in the universe?

14:58 Memes and their evolution

21:13 Homage to Daniel Dennett

23:20 Natural selection and evolution

26:59 The threats and opportunities of AI

31:05 A shifting moral zeitgeist

35:15 Science communication

43:02 Audience questions

47:01 Technology, magic, and time capsules

56:22 Outro

Additional resources:

➡️ Learn more about Richard Dawkins:

✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/RichardDawkins/ 💻 Website: https://richarddawkinstour.com/

➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:

✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast

Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.

Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


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