Extending Darwin's Revolution - David Sloan Wilson & Robert Sapolsky

David Sloan Wilson is one of Earth's foremost evolutionary biologists. His new book, THIS VIEW OF LIFE: COMPLETING THE DARWINIAN REVOLUTION, "moves us in the direction of sustainable living at all scales ... with the compass of evolutionary theory." Here, Professor Wilson is in conversation with another of the planet's research luminaries, neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky.
David Sloan Wilson is Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University (SUNY); he is also co-founder of the Evolution Institute.
Robert Sapolsky is Professor of Biology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at Stanford University; he received Wonderfest's 2008 Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization.
Professors Wilson & Sapolsky are introduced by Susan Tunis of BookShop West Portal in San Francisco. This event was recorded on March 5, 2019, by Wonderfest, the Bay Area Beacon of Science.

[@jakecarlo9950]

Can’t overstate how much gold there is in this conversation. Seriously grateful for this 65 minutes to just exist. Thanks again.

[@sunshinelavender1663]

I love that sapolski’s lectures are available on KZbin as well. I’ve bought “Behave” after finding his lectures. It’s a hard read, but I just love him. Speaking I follow him more (layman’s terms) more than the literature. I wish I studied neuroscience instead of getting a BFA. Making up for it now in books and your tube lol

[@morthim]

45:38 8 core traits of a well functioning group 1) strong sense of identity and purpose 2) proportional costs and benefits 3) inclusive decision making 4) agreed upon behavior - decorum 5) graduated sanctions/corrections - praise and punishment 6) fast and fair conflict resolution 7) authority to self govern 8) appropriate relations to other groups

[@stevencampbell7473]

Damn. Can't copy and paste this. Guess I'll have to write it out.

[@morthim]

@@stevencampbell7473 if you wrote that cause you are on a phone, you can screenshot on an android by pressing the power and volume down at the same time. the is probably something similar on apple

[@stevencampbell7473]

@@morthim Damn. I keep forgetting that. Thanks M!

[@cesrod824]

Thank you!! You the real MVP!

[@CandidDate]

Do unto others... there fixed it for you

[@sunshinelavender1663]

Can you imagine having sapolski’s intelligence and being that humble and genuinely intrigued interviewing others Love that I’ve come across another influencer to research tho

[@ezequielprimera6812]

Great minds, broadening our understandings of this topics, amazing us and making us laugh in the process. This was just great

[@thewiseturtle]

I think the best theory so far is that evolution is entropy, which looks essentially like Pascal's triangle, trying all possible combinations over time, with a fractal zooming in, to create more and more detail at every stage. This process describes everything. We start out with a single, simple, congealed matter~energy everything-nothing at time 0, and then it splits into two things: everything (expansion/change/energy) and nothing (contraction/no-change/matter), and then those two split in half and get recombined to form four things: matter~matter, matter~energy, energy~matter, and energy~energy. And so on. Like a tree with infinite branches, which interweave and reconnect here and there.

[@levgtz8158]

That's a very logical way to write a tale for text books. I can imagine (nano-imagine) a galaxy crushing, creating new planets, starts, black holes, nebulas, asteroid, cosmic rays, "freed gases", and energy in the form of like 100 chemical elements. But I'm so limited to imagine why no new chemical elements are created outside a lab, much less having an idea of why no new kinds of celestial bodies.

[@ElleDuderino]

Wow - what a hidden gem this video is! Love lectures that hit deep. Sapolsky has kind of turned into my Spiritual guru lately, which I’m sure he’d feel pretty uncomfortable about. But hey, keep preaching! I’m all ears.

[@guitarmusic524]

I'm a Sapolsky fan in Terre Haute, Indiana.

[@stewartwinterwizardgoat9375]

I❤️🐐s

[@jvb9553]

Wow. So refreshing to hear David Wilson expand the theory of evolution to something more complex and meaningful than the selfish gene. Humanity has labored too long with theoretical blinders on. He is right to point out that the preoccupation with the selfish individual is a fundamental article of faith in neoliberal capitalism--an ideology that operates like a religion in modern society.

[@MrCBTman]

The selfish gene is not a theory about how individuals are primarily selfish.

[@jvb9553]

@@MrCBTman That is one of the basic tenets in the reductionist theory although I admit there is more to it. Apparently Dawkins regretted being that explicit in the title.

[@MrCBTman]

@@jvb9553 Dawkins has said he could have called his book The Cooperative Gene. I agree.

[@jvb9553]

@@MrCBTman My problem is he passes that through a reductionist biological rationalization process. And that is from the guy who invented the "meme" which is a perfect example of social/cultural evolution. Smart guy--trapped in the 70s.

[@MrCBTman]

@@jvb9553 Dawkins' book The Extended Phenotype skillfully refutes that and many other objections. It's the book he most wants to be remembered by, and it's one of the best sustained arguments I've ever read. But everyone who wants to dismiss him just pretends that he never wrote it.

[@nicholasporteron]

Interesting that David Sloan Wilson came to the same realization about holding something as sacred as the great Romanian theologian Mircea Eliade.

[@lucyhanks500]

What was it? Write impaled on the scrabble board? So 15 years later the kids at school can ask if I’m Romanian and tell me stories of Vlad the impalers kindness? Strange that ancestry can generate at least 3% European Jewish dna which would produce green undertones of the skin to look Romanian/Hungarian/polish/Ukrainian. There was no genetic evidence for people visualising Iranian colouring. My powers of psychism are suggesting that the next media lesson on politics for people who don’t vote, will be regarding Palestine and Israel?

[@AtypicalPaul]

This is my introduction to David Sloan. Lots of great stuff

[@thewiseturtle]

Also, there are four levels of evolution, as I see it, based on the four primary parts of human brains: genetic evolution is physical (motor cortex), art is emotional evolution (limbic system), technology/science is intellectual evolution (neocortex), and culture/spirituality is philosophical evolution (prefrontal cortex). And yes, clearly, all levels of these are utilitarian! They help us understand life better, so we can solve problems better. So we need to be free to wander geographically, through personal stories, through innovation, and through global ideologies, to find our fittest , most compatible mates to collaborate with, and we need to be free to be our unique selves, so that random mutation can create a robust diversity for specialization, allowing every different combination of genes, art, science, and philosophy to be created so that we have all of the possible solutions to growing and evolving as a planet.

[@herbparsley6860]

Well said

[@maggiezee411]

I agree, well said. Attaching the acts to the parts of the brain is helpful to organize the thoughts and actions. Underlying it all, is "will my action benefit society?" If every act had this basis, what a world we would live in. Thanks for sharing your comment.

[@thewiseturtle]

@@maggiezee411 Every brain function automatically has the goal of benefiting life (far beyond just human society). But we usually don't have the freedom to access the information, other resources, or physical space to enact our ideals. That's why I said freedom is the crucial thing we need in the world.

[@CaliforniaGirl-qk5kq]

"If you want to live American Dream, move to Denmark". Not too encouraging.....

[@richidpraah]

Spectacular achievement to be able to mess the sound that far up in 2019

[@ahimel]

Too lazy for even a little mastering in post...

[@jeffreywilliams6386]

Lol you guys : ) lol

[@eliotjohnston8238]

Sapolsky up in here settin Wilson up for the alley-oop droppin dat knowledge

[@jakecarlo9950]

Seriously. Pippin/Jordan level. Stockton/Malone (but not evil).

[@roughpatches]

Why is it that people like Sam Harris, Dawkins, etc talk infront of thousands but this is in a bookstore?

[@Dan.50]

Because the aforementioned are media created celebrities and not scientists.

[@stewartwinterwizardgoat9375]

Better publicists and their content is more controversial. Controversy attracts attention

[@blackpirot]

great discussion! But, as a psychology student, I found it hard to disengage my attention from the oxymoron label on the upper right corner: "Psychology -- Self-help"... and knowing Sapolsky's epigrammatic humour, I'd guess that this wasn't randomly placed up there:p

[@sunshinelavender1663]

It’s on the wall… label for the row of books in the library

[@kemalistdevrimturkaydnlanm168]

I absolutely love Prof Sapolsky, he is one of my top favourite people.

[@davidwilkie9551]

The Universe is "like an individual".., man.., in Principle. This is compulsory education for anyone interested in anything/everything.

[@mmhmmm2]

But even then, an individual is comprised of trillions of live organisms that change as our bodies change. "Individual" is much more along the lines of uniqueness than anything else.

[@litalkadosh5767]

Too bad the sound is so horrible ( this is fascinating!

[@OblateSpheroid]

Thank you for your work.

[@rriquelmy3522]

Better audio would be better

[@AtypicalPaul]

Such a great video. Certainly in the u.s people are far too individualistic. We need to work together for the betterment of all of us. Individualism is fueled by fear.

[@danmosley4387]

32:55 Small groups. There's your organism is a fundamental unit of human social organization that we should

[@johns4775]

Two individuals capable of cooperating with each other, policing their cooperation, and identifying and excluding those who are uncooperative will enjoy synergies beyond those going it alone. Isn't that individual selection?

[@kemalistdevrimturkaydnlanm168]

That’s what real intellectuals do.

[@danmosley4387]

15:45 Now the groups become selfish, they are internally cooperative but they are competing against each other. You have not eliminated conflict you've just elevated conflict higher up the scale that's why if you really want to solve these problems you have to take it all the way up the scale and this leads very very strongly to a whole earth ethic and that's actually the conclusion to my book.

[@moonmunster]

Aren't we all (ok, just many of us) scientists?

[@michaelhunter2136]

To be a scientist you have to think to form a question. You have to experiment to find the answer. You have to accept the answer even if it defies your fundamental beliefs. Do you really think that describes most people? If so you have a more optimistic outlook of humanity than I.

[@michaelhunter2136]

@Mike Kane In the year since I wrote that, I feel like the word science has become a dirty word. Not to me, but to the general public. The battle between Trump's thoughts on Covid and Fauci is a prime example but I see it elsewhere. There was a time when educated people were respected and their opinions carried weight. You can see where this leads.

[@charlesnutter127]

Your sound system is terrible! Fix it! Can almost not understand anything.

[@dianedevery3711]

Yes, sir! I can hear just fine.

[@usergiodmsilva1983PT]

Every argument I hear for group selection, can be as easily (or even easier) presented as the selection of the individuals in a group context... The group is the ecossystem. Yes there is a two way influence in both, but the unit of genetic reproduction is always the organism, not the group.

[@mikemoss2275]

egg or chicken

[@michaelhunter2136]

I have trouble accepting group selection also unless the selection is related to collaborative relationships between the members of the group. How else would you account for the rise of multicellular organisms?

[@diannef315]

Thinking of the Supreme Court. What small group has more influence and could benefit us all more by incorporating this information? Unfortunately, in the current political climate, February 2022, a public school agreeing to the successful intervention mentioned here...?

[@mariannaark5899]

I stan Dr Sapolsky so much I'd get a tattoo of him or some shit and it turns out has his own Sapolsky that's so cute!!! Also this is a fucking gem I'll have to watch it 10 times so I can keep up with the readings and references thank u soooo much for uploading it

[@sadettinozgun5888]

Sayın Wilson, Evolution For Everyone adlı kitabınızın 17. bölümünde bizden ahlakla ilgili görüşlerimizi istemişsiniz. Bana göre ahlak, insanların uydurduğu bir kavramdır. Görünmezlik özelliği kazanan hiçbir insan, göründüğü gibi davranmaz. Oysa bana göre ahlak, insanların her zaman, her yerde, her durumda sergilemek durumunda oldukları değişmez kişilikleridir. Selamlar...

[@TheScienceForge]

Do you think that people will understand Turkish? At least you could have bothered to translate it to English.

[@boydhooper4080]

4 points. 1. Contrary to Davids assertions The majority of scientists across disciplines either don’t accept group selection or are sceptical of it. 2..Very few geneticists accept group selection in the way David puts it forward and can very easily explain All his arguments without the need for group selection. 3. I’m always suspicious when the religious arguments come into play, it just seems to bring a strong agenda driven element into the argument. From a societal point of view 4. David‘s ideas are no doubt valuable. It doesn’t mean they’re scientifically valid.

[@life42theuniverse]

The only reason I fear a global government is what happens when someone who fills the office doesn't have the interest of globes ecosystem(all life) in their plans? The planet has no asylum from their power.

[@lucyhanks500]

It’s quite strange that just as all hands are motioning toward the right and talking of the selfish gene, ‘it’ pulls onto the drive on the right to come and spit in the well with a mysterious victorious smile. If I didn’t make the siblings tea in the same order as science papers from 1956 I might find it even stranger; but, you get used to these synchronicities when they happen every day 🤷🏻‍♀️ I thought that textual and phonetic NLP was the cause, but I can’t think of a logical answer as to how that could affect the behaviours and synchronicities of other species in the animal kingdom; or how menial physical realities such as a cup falling off the sideboard could be thought of seconds before happening. It seems a strange notion I’m not personally able to contextualise effectively, but the image in the Donny Darko film seems similar (the thought leaving his body and the reality happening a fraction of a second later). Whilst major events could well be influenced by NLP and hypnosis; an inanimate object with no affective mind, mobility or probability of synchronicity like a teacup falling off of a sideboard? When my sister and I were younger, we’d get spooked when the radio or tv would switch itself on and off; then as I got older I learned about high functioning autism and electrical devices 😒, but I still can’t explain the psychic teacups and the deep lipped lids flying of of vases where there isn’t a draft. I haven’t read string theory as a book but I’m surmising some such technicality of physical space would be the logical theory.

[@rostamr4096]

sound volume is too low

[@petermiesler9452]

16:50 - How do we raise our awareness and understanding of Earth and her processes, without people arriving at a more intimate deep-time understanding for this Earth's Pageant of Evolution and how that's what formed who you are today? Taking it personal that you are a biological sensing creature, a product of countless generations*, and that our gods are creations of our own making.

[@venugopal2227]

a great meeting......

[@danmosley4387]

36:55 Edward Wilson (good stuff)

[@danmosley4387]

32:50 Major evolutionary transition

[@marcoaslan]

Are those Will Durant's books on the top left corner?

[@danmosley4387]

16:20 You now have the scientific authority.

[@markportnoy6290]

14:50 So medical companies that compete find better solutions than if they collaborated?

[@SamuelHulick]

Starts at 1:57 👍

[@AmateurSpaceman]

The audio quality on this is awful, it's hard to hear what Sapolsky is saying

[@jeffbalagna9259]

Damn, that was good

[@vichaarmanthaan2530]

Everything is ok in covid-19 god bless you

[@vichaarmanthaan2530]

🏆🎤🙏

[@sandwich675]

Name of song at the start lol?

[@joegrows4209]

Sandstorm by darude

[@wulfmountainpath3719]

Those individual behavioural differences are also genetically determined in conjunction with environment. This is Darwinian.. Classical but yes there are group dynamics.. That's just group selection.. Within specific groups the selection for trait changes because you've changed environment.. Right? Still classical Darwinian just a little modified by social grouping modification.

[@marcofsw]

Great last words.

[@rogergamble7880]

So to bring Darwinism to its logical conclusion, "good science requires a whole-earth ethic." Eureka! This we call "Religion"

[@pamelapap]

Roger Gamble did he say that or are you implying that? If so religion as one world religion?

[@busterallen7825]

Could it be possible, that such brilliant minds really believe in the core content [of] what they say/promote? Is it a possibilty?

[@stewartwinterwizardgoat9375]

Probably.

[@christopherhamilton3621]

Why wouldn’t they?

[@busterallen7825]

@@christopherhamilton3621 Because it's absurdly ridiculous. I'm a physicist (Standford grad) and I find it laughable. Many of these shill sellouts are planted by design in efforts to divert you from the truth. I have worked with plenty that fit the mold. Respectfully, instead of listening to condescending men, or anyone, including myself, perhaps one could/should consider diligently seeking the truth. As a young geophysics student I'll never forget the moment I visited the one-and-only place on earth that brimstone can be found, which is a geographical location referred to in the Bible as Sodom and Gomorrah. Secular and Biblical scholars have identified the location outside of Jerusal€m. Oddly, no one is allowed to enter the area without authorized permission. I say [that] because of the historical, evidentiary significance related to Biblical claims. As you enter the vast area, the remains of ancient ziggurats can be observed and explored. The evidence of a massive destruction-by-fire is clearly apparent with simple, cursory examinations. Additionally, whenever you pluck a literal chunk of brimstone from the walls of the ancient city and set it ablaze, the internal assertion becomes even more obvious that a massive fire scorched the land. Based on my own experience, the Biblical account aligns with what you see and feel. Again, volcanic soil does not contain the elements found in said land. Many people do not realize that the provided descriptions can be observed. In fact, there is a fantastic video (4k on Ytbe) that provides excellent documentation of the observations mentioned. For the scientific minds out there: the physical evidence is undeniable. I only mention it because I have yet to hear anyone speak of it mainstream. There is no rebuttal other than outright refusal to accept the Biblical account, which matches the physical account of what can be observed in-person - and- as seen on video. When confronted with this conversation, most scientists will scurry along to another question or topic because it presses them with undeniable evidence of something they refuse to acknowledge. Strangely, they have no problem marking their maps in accordance with various findings, but they will not discuss it. Go see it for yourself for an eye-opening discovery.

[@litalkadosh5767]

The sound :((

[@LeaLittleDanishGirl]

9:08 45:05 BOOM!!!

[@simonmasters3295]

That was helpful orientation, thanks

[@Angelina-xj5zd]

We need a better human operating manual.

[@pstimac]

Shouldn't there be variations in group composition just like there needs to be variation in individuals for more effectiveness? If we force all groups to be composed the same way you loose diversity. And should we even be forcefully controlling the groups? Wouldn't it be best if we let the groups to evolve naturally? Understanding how groups evolve/compete vs attempting the control composition groups to fit your possibly temporary understanding are two very different things. One's illuminating and the other is potentially destructive.

[@realitymatters8720]

That is the exact point these two men promotes. Im thinking you are to deep into absolutes, the results of group dynamics decribed here is that the most agressive tend to become marginalized over time. It seems as, its good to have extremes, but they cannot dominate for long.

[@danmosley4387]

15:25 All of the prosocial behaviors, everything you would consider morally virtuous Darwin could not explain through the theory of natural selection.

[@danmosley4387]

25:55 Every theory of social evolution...

[@PeterQuentercrimsonbamboo]

too bad that many scientists with fabulous knowledge in their field of psychology and emotions and evolution and all, also have little understanding of how all those evolutionary and psychological human behaviours and actions result in- and affect the evolution of a free human economic market - some background understanding of even basic study of Ludwig van Mises and Hayek and contemporary great thinker Hans Herman Hoppe, to name only three of many more, would provide so much more substance to a fine talk like this -

[@MrJustSomeGuy87]

David Sloan Wilson has written directly on Hayek (evonomics.com/?s=Hayek) and most definitely knows about these thinkers.

[@lewisballin4549]

And no one of them is a democratic mind...

[@david9920]

The big question ❓ i have us what line of primates did we evolve from. Bonobo chimp great ape. All of the ancers make a difference in humans organization. I don't know

[@ihatespam2]

None of the above. We have a shared ancestor with all three. We are apes, but not in the common sense of the word “gorilla.” The exact line of decent is not clear. We are closest to Chimp/bonobos but there were many other species which we were closer too. Hominids, Erectus, Naledi, etc.

[@A3Kr0n]

All I hear is boom boom boom and stuff is rattling in my room.

[@stewartwinterwizardgoat9375]

Boom, boom, boom let’s go back to my room we can do it all night and I’ll make you feel right🕺🕺🕺

[@stewartwinterwizardgoat9375]

I❤️🐐s

[@alfakennywon]

22:50

[@stewartwinterwizardgoat9375]

I❤️🐐s

[@jokers7890]

It's not titled correctly, it is not a 'Darwin Revolution'......its 'Darwinian Revolution'....there is a big key difference. Darwinism and all subsequent influence on the scientific method is not created by or limited to Darwin the man. This is a common mistake. For example, I uphold Darwinism to the death against fascism, but I would never defend Darwin the upper class scientist in the British empire against fascism.

[@MaryJones-d7e]

Thompson Helen Taylor Michael Young Paul

[@ronkrate609]

very bad audio.

[@bebe8842]

Salposky barely talked... pity! the other guy had a monologue, not a dialogue

[@celestialteapot309]

great argument for socialism

[@mikemassino]

The sound is too horrible for me to listen to for very long. I'm outta here

[@YerkesVeronica-e3m]

Davis Jeffrey Perez Christopher Jones Jessica

[@kippapao]

FunnyINtro!!!!

[@levgtz8158]

Policy Making? what the hell he's talking about. My gosh! academia is done.

[@membersonly807]

it flew right over your head

[@sebvansteijn7227]

I'll be damned if I'm not the baboon Sapolsky studied.... 🤣 I'm gone anyway, 'cause of the other baboons, who don't know they are...

[@goldy3563]

Two goats

[@mikemoss2275]

The audio is terrible, although I like Sapolsky's talks a lot this is simply not watchable

[@JM-fo1te]

Shit audio