The uniqueness of human nature | Raymond Tallis

An interview with Raymond Tallis on the nature of humanity and human consciousness.

00:00 What does it mean to be human when you don't believe in G_d?
02:19 Do you think the Anthropocene exemplifies the risks of our way of life?
06:32 Can you expand on your work with the term "logos"?
07:59 What do you think the pre-Socratics got right?
11:35 What have you found to be the best medium for conveying your ideas?

Human nature is unlike anything else in the universe. We're the only part of existence that can observe and reflect on being itself, that can choose to destroy or repair our own habitat. Or so Raymond Tallis argues in this deep dive interview into what it means to be human. Watch to find out how we came to be so unique, what it means for our relationship to nature, and what Parmenides has to do with all this.

#raymondtallisconsciousness #humanconsciousness #humannature

Physician, philosopher, poet and novelist Raymond Tallis is ‘one of the world’s greatest living polymaths’ (Intelligent Life). He is the author of such wide-ranging books as The Enduring Significance of Parmenides, The Kingdom of Infinite Space and Aping Mankind.

The Institute of Art and Ideas features videos and articles from cutting edge thinkers discussing the ideas that are shaping the world, from metaphysics to string theory, technology to democracy, aesthetics to genetics. Subscribe today!

[robertflynn]

Your so correct. Spot on. Analytical metaphysical or analytical ideals. What would Darwin say now is our task.
Its a new kind of unification with nature. So Darwin might say evolution to a final purpose not random.

[vanessali]

You says: "yes"..."we are in part chosen ..." So, how is it differenced to 'we are chosen'?

[xetrius]

9:11 "No room for change" I disagree, allow me to elaborate.
"A single unchanging homogeneous entity"
It says unchanging but can their be some thing that is in many different states at the same time, that way it doesn't have to change.
It simply is the thing, and the apparent change happens in the process of observation.
If that entity is made of 'probabilities' then there are possibly an infinite amount of states of being.
The universe doesn't ask what happens next, it is the previous next.

.