Jared Diamond in conversation with Richard Dawkins - The Use of Religion

Humanitas Visiting Professor in the History of Ideas Jared Diamond and Richard Dawkins discuss the practical value of religion and its function within traditional societies.

This series has been made possible by the generous support of Francis Finlay

[garfieldbraithwaite]

I’m astonished to see that I’m only 1 of 118000 people to have seen this extraordinary exchange. What a blessing

[rorytennes]

Two of my favorite minds to learn from.
Thanks!

[RoyLPayneU]

Oxford A/V department gets an 'F' for the poor quality of the sound.

[sydneymorey]

Absolutely brilliant, a joy listening to the intelligence spoken on YouTube. Cheers SBM.

[easywind]

They have discussed the benefits of religion but I have not heard anyone bring up the maladaptive effects of religion for society. For example, the belief in the second coming and the rapture may be a barrier to an appropriate response to climate change.

[hookilpark]

what a sumptuous combination of religion and anthropology or history in the modern times! i respect both of them.

[judiderman]

I love his work. Guns..., started my science reading.
His body language holding his glasses is so natural, walk, talk, synchrony. Ah, we humans.

[bastiatintheandes]

Excellent! I came for my hero Jared Diamond, buy got surprised by the depth of Dawkins reflections. BTW, Dr. Diamond's assertion about glaciers on the equator, a little precision: the only glacier crossed by the equator is Cayambe volcano in Ecuador.

[nesa]

Thanks for this video. What a gentleman's. I love Jared books, if he needs someone to do stuff on his next trip to New Guinea I am in!

[lcasalini]

Thank you for posting. So very interesting.

[DAVIDPETERSC]

Echoes my thoughts on Kubrick's major mistake in 2001. The key advance in early humans was not killing your neighbor, but trading and sharing.

[geetaliification]

Carl Sagan should've been here. They would be the three stars glittering in the academic world.

[raymaxwell]

I really enjoyed this conversation. I think conversations like this are very important. Given this, I suggest that you hire a competent audio technician who knows how to attach a lapel mike to a shirt or tie so that it does not click against other clothing. In addition this same person should know how to run an audio board to maintain a constant audio level and install audience microphones and ask the members of the audience to line up at the microphones so we can clearly hear the questions.

[winupdate]

Great Talk. Thanks. Does anyone else noticed something odd in Prof. Dawkins’ voice? I mean, his voice seemed sharper before, he now speaks with some kind of drag.. May it be the great professor is getting old ? I hope we have him for many more years, we need people like him 👏🏻👏🏻

[ClassicRock]

Jared is dead on about why we haven't met aliens. Those ARE the reasons. End of discussion. Damn he gets right to the heart of it. No bullshit

[ashrafjehangirqazi]

Riveting discussion between two great scientists. With regard to the expansion of the moral Zeitgeist the planned displacement of the Palestinians from their homeland and their replacement with Jewish settlers is not just an exception to this generalization but an exception that defines international relations far more than the generalization does. This must call into question the validity of the generalization itself.

[traitorjoe]

4:22 - Richard Dawkins begins a life and death struggle with his sweater and jacket.
14:43 - major cough into the microphone

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[NellyAndo]

this is one of the first instances I have heard of Jared, but have always known and admired Dawkins. If I could be so blunt, I now admire two men here I will say that I still to this day can only receive Dawkins better in written format than f-to-f, I have 'watched' so many clips/docos of him presenting and I really struggle to absorb what he says. please dont hate me

[louisehaley]

14:- and that begs the question, if the division between humans and nonhumans is a spectrum rather than a distinct line, why is it considered morally acceptable to experiment on nonhumans if we consider it morally unacceptable to do so with humans ?

[omarenani]

1:07:31 When the Mic is deliberately cut off!
Diamond said "for humans to do things to other humans that are not acceptable today"