Episode 113: Evolution, Collective Minds, and Static Societies
The Theory of Anything · Bruce Nielson and Peter Johansen
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Show Notes
This week Bruce takes a deep dive into anthropologist Joseph Henrich’s book: The Secret of Our Success: How Culture Is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us Smarter.
Bruce outlines Henrich's hypothesis that human evolution occurs at the level of culture as much as genes and that this collective mind may be far superior to any individual. Bruce considers ways this theory may or may not be consistent with David Deutsch’s ideas on static and dynamic societies. What we can learn about the details of life in a static society from Henrich's evidence? How might this evidence change our perceptions of Deutsch's theory?