The Secret History of Science and Religion: On the Origin of Humans
Nick Spencer examines the history of science and religion and questions the extent to which they have been in conflict with one another.
BBC Radio 4
Topics: Elaine Howard Ecklund Evolutionary Theory Human Uniqueness Models of Science & Religion Science & Religion Dialogue
Human Exceptionalism Stifles Progress
The aversion to playing God is not just about God.
Nautilus
Topics: Human Uniqueness Morality Nature Technology
Empathy, Morality, Community, Culture — Apes Have It All
Primatologist Frans de Waal takes exception with human exceptionalism.
Topics: Altruism Animal Studies Atheism Cooperation Emotion Empathy Fairness Frans de Waal Human Uniqueness Morality Religiosity
“Mama’s Last Hug” Makes Case That Humans Are Not Alone in Experiencing Emotions
In his new book, primate behavior researcher Frans de Waal writes that “emotions are everywhere in the animal kingdom, from fish to birds to insects and even in brainy mollusks such as the octopus.”
NPR
Topics: Animal Studies Emotion Frans de Waal Human Uniqueness
Non-Modern Humans Were More Complex — and Artistic — Than We Thought
Fossil and archaeological evidence suggests that our ancient relatives found innovative ways to make and share meaning.
Anthropology News
Topics: Creativity Human Uniqueness Symbolic Behavior
What Made Us Unique
How we became a different kind of animal.
Scientific American
Topics: Animal Studies Cognition Cognitive Development Cultural Evolution Human Uniqueness Kevin Laland Social Behavior Social Learning
Why Westerners Fear Robots and the Japanese Do Not
The hierarchies of Judeo-Christian religions mean that those cultures tend to fear their overlords. Beliefs like Shinto and Buddhism are more conducive to have faith in peaceful coexistence.
WIRED
Topics: Human Uniqueness Religious Groups Robots Technology
Chimpanzees Can’t Tell Us Much About Being Human
Although there is merit in recognizing how we resemble our primate relatives, sometimes we need to understand what sets our species apart.
SAPIENS
Topics: Animal Studies Human Evolution Human Uniqueness
Why Grandmothers May Hold The Key To Human Evolution
What made us human might have had less to do with men out hunting, and a lot more to do with what was going on at home — with grandmas and babies.
Goats & Soda, NPR
Topics: Cooperation Human Evolution Human Uniqueness Social Behavior
Was Science Wrong About Being Right?
Handedness is an ancient trait, but researchers are rethinking its roots.
Discover
Topics: Human Uniqueness
Humans Evolved But Are Still Special
Steve Mirsky spoke to Ken Miller, a professor of biology at Brown University and the author, most recently, of The Human Instinct.
Science Talk, Scientific American
Topics: Consciousness Evolutionary Theory Human Uniqueness
Neanderthals Were Artists and Thought Symbolically, New Studies Argue
Neanderthals created art and knew how to use symbols, new studies say.
Ars Technica
Topics: Cognition Human Uniqueness Language Neanderthals
Culture and the Mind: A New Theory of Human Intelligence
What role might culture play in intelligence? And how does human culture differ from culture found in other animals?
Science Weekly, The Guardian
Topics: Animal Studies Cultural Evolution Human Uniqueness Intelligence Kevin Laland Language Social Learning
Unlike Humans, Bonobos Shun Helpers and Befriend the Bullies
Given a choice, bonobos tend to prefer people who act like jerks and dominate. That’s very different than humans, who even as infants consistently prefer people who are cooperative and not mean.
Shots, NPR
Topics: Animal Studies Cooperation Human Uniqueness Social Behavior
Who First Buried the Dead?
Evidence of burial rites by the primitive, small-brained Homo naledi suggests that symbolic behavior is very ancient indeed.
Aeon
Topics: Cultural Evolution Death Human Evolution Human Uniqueness Ritual
Human Nature: Paleolithic Emotions, Medieval Institutions, God-Like Technology
Creativity might just be the defining trait that makes us human, says E.O. Wilson, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and acclaimed ‘Father of Biodiversity.’ But what exactly is the modern Homo sapiens, anyway?
Big Think
Topics: Creativity Human Uniqueness
Less Unique Than We Think
The idea that humans are special bumps up against Darwin’s great insight: the continuity of all life. David Barash reviews The Creative Spark by Agustín Fuentes and Darwin’s Unfinished Symphony by Kevin N. Laland.
The Wall Street Journal
Topics: Cognition Cooperation Creativity Cultural Evolution Human Uniqueness Imagination
Ravens Can Plan for the Future
They join an elite group of animals that includes great apes, but not monkeys or 3-year-old human children.
The Atlantic
Topics: Animal Studies Cognition Human Uniqueness
What Makes Us Human?
What does it mean to be “human”? Natalia Reagan and comic co-host Patrick Melton welcome paleoanthropologist Marc Kissel to discuss our evolutionary journey and the study of wisdom, and try to uncover what it means to be human.
StarTalk All-Stars
Topics: Compassion Human Evolution Human Origins Human Uniqueness Language Symbolic Behavior Wisdom
Chimps Pass Knowledge Along From Generation to Generation
Humans aren’t the only species that passes knowledge along to the next generation. A new study by primatologists at the University of St. Andrews discovered that chimpanzees also engage in “cumulative practice,” a process that allows subsequent generations to build on the skills honed by their elders.
The Week
Topics: Animal Studies Human Uniqueness
Raising Good Robots
We already have a way to teach morals to alien intelligences: it's called parenting. Can we apply the same methods to robots?
Topics: Human Uniqueness Morality Robots
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