Are We Human, or..?

Below is part 1 of 5 of 'What it Means To Be Human' - an interdisciplinary exploration of how discoveries in areas like fundamental physics, anthropology, and genomics are challenging our understanding of human nature.

What it Means to Be Human (Part 1/5) from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Watch All 5 Parts: Here

This event happened on May 31, 2008, at the 2008 World Science Festival - and was moderated by Charlie Rose. Participants include philosopher Daniel Dennett, artist Jonathan Harris, anthropologist Ian Tattersall, geneticist Francis Collins, neuroscientist Antonio Damasio, philosopher Patricia Churchland, sociologist Nikolas Rose, embryonic stem cell biologist Renee Reijo Pera, and Nobel Laureates Harold Varmus and Paul Nurse.

Shock, Awe and the Psychology of Economic Warfare

In this short video Naomi Klein, an award winning journalist and out-spoken political commentator, discusses the economic, social and psychological impacts of Neo-liberal ideology and tactics combined with predatory state violence. Shock-trauma as economic and governmental policy?:

Also Check Out Naomi's amazingly written and revelatory book:
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Genes, Personality, Schizophrenia and Religion

Anthropologist Robert Sapolsky lectures for 90 minutes on the evolutionary basis for literal religious belief – what he calls "metamagical thinking". Sapolsky attempts to explain how, in evolutionary terms, religion - as it relates to mild schizophrenic expression called "schizotypal personality" - may have increased reproductive opportunities in our ancestors.

Jiddu Krishnamurti on the Human Condition

Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986) was a well-known writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual subjects. At one time Krishnamurti, or 'K' as he was often called, was thought to be a World Teacher - an enlightened master born into this world to free our species from ignorance and delusion. However, Krishnamurti rejected this label, and every other label, and instead chose to travel the world humbly giving lectures to whomever might listen.

K talked on many subjects: freedom, insight, the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships, and how to enact positive change in society. He constantly stressed the need for a revolution in the psyche of every human being and emphasized that such a revolution cannot be brought about by any external entity whether religious, political or social. Only we can choose to attend to our own consciousness and radically open to the limits of human thought and perception.

The Future of the Secular

Here is a lecture by Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor on secular culture and the social processes underlying it. Charles Taylor is a widely respected thinker who has made significant contributions to political philosophy, the philosophy of social science and the history of philosophy. He is both a world-renown academic and practicing Roman-Catholic.

Follow the Ongoing and Related Discussion: Here