Overview
Explore the fascinating origins of life in this first lecture from Richard Dawkins' 1991 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures series. Delve into human ancestry and the remarkably small probability of our existence, as Dawkins explains how an elite group of bacteria evolved over billions of years to become modern humans. Learn about the challenging journey of becoming an ancestor, beyond mere reproduction, and discover how our predecessors succeeded in surviving and passing on their genes. Examine the significance of art and culture in society, along with how human physical capabilities enable complex task completion. Through scientific demonstrations, including a compelling cannonball experiment, understand why science, rather than supernatural beliefs, provides the most reliable framework for comprehending when and why we appeared on Earth. This 55-minute lecture, filmed at the Royal Institution, combines beautiful writing with illuminating demonstrations to explain how life evolves from "nonliving simplicity" to "living complexity."
Syllabus
Waking up in the universe - Richard Dawkins 1991 Christmas Lectures 1/5
Taught by
The Royal Institution