Planet of the Humans - The Leap to the Top

Explore the evolutionary leap that led to human intelligence in this thought-provoking World Science Festival conference talk. Delve into Darwin's vexing question about the sudden emergence of complex human traits like upright walking, language, and advanced cognition. Join leading experts in anthropology, linguistics, biology, and philosophy as they tackle this evolutionary conundrum. Examine theories on human uniqueness, including the "cognitive niche" hypothesis, social coercion theory, and biological origins. Investigate topics such as the impact of written language on societal structures, human peacefulness compared to other mammals, and the limits of cognitive abilities. Gain insights from renowned participants like Lee Berger, Paul Bingham, Dean Falk, and Steven Pinker as they discuss the practical applications of understanding human evolution and its implications for our species' future.

Blanca Li and her dancing robot
Brian Lehrer Introduction.
Participant Introductions
Dean Falk and Baby the Trend Setter
Steven Pinker and The Cognitive Niche
Paul bingham and The Social Coercion Theory
Lee Berger and human uniqueness and the biological origins of humans
Is the discussion of Human uniqueness important?
Why did the development of written language cause humans to present the natural order of the species as patriarchal?
Humans are the most peaceful mammals on the planet?
At what point does your accumulation of knowledge hit the barrier on ones cognitive abilities?
Is there a practical application for all of this?