The Idea of Cultural Transmission

One way we differ from other animals is that we can pass on our culture, our knowledge, our skills, not just in face to face interactions, but across generations to strangers we’ve never met, even those living long after we have died.

People in other parts of the world or born long after our deaths, can benefit from our thoughts and inventions. Without that, each generation would have to reinvent itself more or less from scratch, relying only on what they can pass on to those around them.

Narrated by Gillian Anderson. Scripted by Nigel Warburton.

From the BBC Radio 4 series about life's big questions - A History of Ideas.

This project is from the BBC in partnership with The Open University, the animations were created by Cognitive.

[frankchilds]

I just discovered your videos and can't thank you enough for putting philosophy into this time when we need it badly indeed...thanks, really appreciate you!

[vigorzang]

I love this kind of video, your style is perfect to me.

[lllorenz]

This video discriminates against chimpanzees portraying them in a stereotypical and negative way.

[roberthow]

I thought I recognised Gillian Anderson's voice... she was clearly having a bad day!

[AdamRiz]

is that Steve jobs? was he a scientist? seriously!! in a line with Newton and Einstein!!!

[kyliespies]

This is actually false. I am in a college level animal behavior class, and we just learned about experiments and observations where non-human, and even non-primate, animals learn from each other by scents and observing the other animals behavior.

[dilaragurel]

is this cultral turn? Kulturwissenschaftliche Wende?