Richard Dawkins, Ann Druyan, and Ken Frazier in Conversation

At the Alex Theatre, Prof. Dawkins was in conversation with Ann Druyan, co-creator, writer, and producer of the Cosmos television series (the first of which was in collaboration with her late husband Carl Sagan) and creative director for NASA’s Voyager Interstellar Message Project. Druyan and Dawkins were hosted by moderator Kendrick Frazier, editor of Skeptical Inquirer magazine.
At a time when irrationality runs rampant, the fundamentals of science are being denied at the highest levels of power, and “alternative facts” saturate mass media, there has never been a greater need for Dawkins’ approach to forthright, enlightened discourse.
This talk took place on October 20th, 2019.

[@damiaosilva8845]

Professor Dawkins, please never die.

[@AudioPervert1]

Dawkins family owned slaves and grabbed land for centuries... Now blabbering about NASA. Get over your celebrity cult worship trash...

[@ScooBdont]

@@AudioPervert1 you seem salty. How would something he took absolutely no part in, had no possible control over since it happened generations before he was even born, and hasn’t one iota of relevance pertaining to the competency, veracity, rationale or credibility of what he speaks of today? It, in fact, does you a disservice by exposing a lack of any valid or reasonable explanation for your unfavorable opinion of him. At least put a little effort into forming a rational and/or sensible argument

[@damiaosilva8845]

@@AudioPervert1 So if my grandfather killed a man I have to be punished? I have to pay for my parents' sins? You asshole. Shut your fucking mouth.

[@robburdack4361]

his passing will be of great loss to the world and of great loss to many many people of the world !

[@hello12321hi]

@@AudioPervert1 your ignorance is showing.

[@vespadargento]

Richard.....you r the light the encouragement and hope for many of us. Thank you.

[@EelkodeVos]

Mister Dawkins keeps on amazing me in his eloquence and knowledge. You are one of my examples in life and work. Thank you for being you.

[@WayneLynch69]

WTF!!...SUCH a fabulist conclave! Carl Sagan said: "we don't know that thermodynamics is universal". HAHAHA....HOWL!!!! EINSTEIN said: "Thermodynamics is THE ONE universal law which will NEVER be overthrown". Sagan HAD TO SAY THAT!! It's the only way the entirely deterministic "superstitionist" can license THIS UNIVERSE from/of natural origin: 1st LAW forecloses upon THIS universe of heat originating de novo 2nd LAW obviates an eternal universe of heat; it would have gone to heat death AT LEAST he had the bag of suet brains to recognize thermodynamics contravenes "scientific atheism"..... NOT DAWGSHITS. He propounds: "life's origins will be known in my lifetime", and, "we do know life began as the first self-replicating molecule". BUUUUTTTT...when confronted by ACTUAL SCIENTISTS, totally unlike himself, he's struck MUTE/DEAF/IGNORANT: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnqrfqF6Z6t3m7s Nobel laureates in biology Sydney Altman & Leland Hartwell both use the word "IMPOSSIBLE"...as does Presidential Medal of Freedom bio-chemist/atheist Craig Venter, responding to: "WILL WE EVER KNOW LIFE'S ORIGIN?" It's Dawgshits sine qua non, AND HE SAYS NOTHING!!??? As I said: "HAHAHAHAHA....HOWL!!"

[@WayneLynch69]

NO WHERE EVER HAS OR WILL Roger Penrose answered "YES" to the question: "did you invalidate or even inflect the laws of thermodynamics?" HE KNOWS....HE WOULDN'T DREAM OF SAYING HE DID!! HE'D BE LAUGHED OUTTA PHYSICS.....

[@cockruukovo3237]

WHAT ABOUT ME DOLLEENGG🙄☺️

[@phamphuc9853]

I deeply admire you, Professor Dawkins. I hope you will visit Vietnam one day. I'm always your huge fan.

[@phamphuc9853]

@tate rosemary I don't really understand what you mean.

[@kingdemon26]

Professor Dawkins is my intellectual hero 😁

[@markrobertsministries]

Yet he is a fool.

[@MattSingh1]

@@markrobertsministries ...claims an uncultured, uneducated, unenlightened buffoon

[@ctwentysevenj6531]

The world needs more rational people in the world like Prof. Richard Dawkins.

[@niranjanpunnokkil5646]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge sir. You are my only real teacher.

[@JockoJonson17]

Ann is the sweetest lady ever. 💕

[@black_jack_meghav]

Thanks to professor Dawkins.

[@KingsMom831]

Initially, several years ago, I found Ann Druyan when I was immediately taken by a quote of hers. It was about the meeting of lifetimes/timelines between herself & her late husband, Carl Sagan. It’s THE WAY she writes, speaks & communicates. The original Cosmos & The Pale Blue Dot was absolutely moving for me. They are 2 of my absolute, favorite humans on this Pale Blue Dot. Would also love to recommend their daughter, Sasha Sagan’s book: “For Small Creatures Such as We” It’s incredibly well written😊 Also, who doesn’t love Richard Dawkins??!!😁 People like this just get better with time. We are all so fortunate to have overlapping lifetimes with some of the greatest minds of all time! 🌍 🌏🌎 🙏🏼💛

[@eloquentsir5084]

Dear Mister Dawkins, I have the deepest love for your work. Thank you so much. To my humble knowledge and opinion, you are the most badass person who has ever held such scientific speeches in front of a public. Thank you again. Alex. MTL, Canada.

[@ayoolaayodejidavid638]

Dawkins will always be a force in the world.He is an "heretic" ,to some now,but future generations will really celebrate him more than we'll ever do.

[@22jaydn]

So good to hear a new conversation with dawkins, you are a fucking legend mate

[@mastodans]

Carl Sagan deserves a posthumous Nobel Prize in Literature. He told the greatest story there is.

[@kylerathdesign]

And hopefully we don’t need to repeat a posthumous allocation in the case of Dawkins! Let’s give him one now while he is alive!

[@molletre9606]

Her statement that you cannot change peoples mind by making them feel stupid is as simple as it is brilliant. And thats exactly one of the things that went totally out of control since many years, mainly through the rise of social media.

[@DIOULASSO]

If someone is intelligent enough to admit they are wrong, they can accept that they have been wrong. Prof. Dawkins has explained how he did this himself as a young man.

[@presidentobummer447]

She is wrong about that, if you respect superstitious people, you will enable them. If someone believes in fairies, they need to be made aware of how stupid that is.

[@frankporziella1460]

@@presidentobummer447 tippy toeing around the plebs is a lost cause, tried it, now to me satirical and derogatory response is inevitable, they absorb the facts better now, its the language they understand

[@Andre_XX]

There actually IS such a thing as being stupid, idiotic and mislead. People need to be made aware of that.

[@ashtonhaggitt216]

You cannot change the mind of someone who is dead set they are right and you are wron. In which case, explaining in great detail how dumb they are is quite satisfying

[@maxrupo]

We need both your approaches to science understanding. And many others. Thanks both for being the way you are.

[@lewreed1871]

Lots of well deserved adulation for Richard Dawkins here, but let's hear it for Ann Druyan too! One of the greatest collaborators in science communication still living. This woman contributed massively to Carl Sagan's brilliant popular work. Anyone who hasn't discovered Carl Sagan's books, 'Cosmos', 'Pale Blue Dot' and 'The Demon-Haunted World', please check them out.

[@mona8055]

Thank you for the recommendation. I will check them out! :-)

[@DexterDexter123]

Thank you.

[@Notalloldpeople]

Richard is one of the greatest science communicators. This is a fact that many of his detractors overlook in seeking to demonise his inconvenient explanations..

[@sophie-963]

I LOVE you Richard Dawkins and am so grateful for what I've had the pleasure of learning from you.

[@dylanmurphy9173]

I loved the "devotion" for the truth of reality as presented here; as well as the healthy skepticism exhibited by Dawkins to keep its grounding in just that, "devotion" for the TRUTH of *REALITY* and NOTHING MORE.

[@kA-dc6zq]

Mr Dawkins You are a torch in the dark world, but what a pity many people don't understand you! I love you

[@shaman_ando_]

Richard Dawkins I adore you!!! You are the coolest person in the world! You have opened the eyes of many! I learned a lot after reading your books! You are a legend to me and I am your fan!

[@tonyfrantz9942]

Absolutely enjoyed every moment of this

[@studioelb]

My gratitude to Dr. Dawkins. I am one of your followers and have read some of your wonderful books. My greetings and appreciation. Eddie.

[@venugopal2227]

dear Dawkins..i love the aesthetic side of science being advocated...it is quite rare among most of the people doing science...the pragmatic side is significant but the evolutionary drive to seek patterns and perceive beauty which in turn has ensured our survival too...

[@bisbeekid]

I absolutely love Professor Dawkins' DNA tie! His genes are beyond beautiful.

[@juliaabadi6812]

Thank goodness you ate from the tree of knowledge.

[@markrobertsministries]

He ate from something.

[@MsKariSmith]

A interesting and very well done talk by all.

[@bobh5087]

What a joy and pleasure. 👍❤️

[@krishancurtis450]

Good to see him doing well.

[@witHonor1]

Did anyone else feel Richard's restraint at the pushback of the tooth fairy comparison. What a gentleman. They're one in the same ma'am, imaginary.

[@DIOULASSO]

*One and the same (sorry - compulsive English teacher handing out free samples!)

[@markrobertsministries]

Tooth Fairy didn't create the universe is what he misses.

[@ashtonhaggitt216]

@@markrobertsministries the evidence of the universe being made by a God and the evidence of a tooth fairy are exactly the same; there's none for either.

[@andrerichardson]

Why is KZbin burying this channel? I searched Richard Dawkins before and only found this heading to the channel itself !!!

[@DJLiddle]

Richard Dawkins truly is a gift to humanity.

[@tabularasa0606]

Pearl Buck won the Nobel prize for literature for writing about the life of Chinese farmers. Her work was partially fiction, but not all of it.

[@-UPGRADE-]

Richard deserves a billion subscribers. 🍻 cheers to you

[@DouwedeJong]

Ken Frazier is so unprepared and is asking such terrible questions. Glad Richard took over.

[@KevinUchihaOG]

the ones starting applauses every fifth sentence are quite annoying.

[@ClaversOdhiamboArt]

Richard's suit is so dapper OMG.

[@louisehaley5105]

Richard Dawkins is absolutely correct, it’s not only the Right we should be afraid of attacking Academia.

[@KingsMom831]

Intro is spot on😁

[@lawrencenaickeryfyt5570]

Excellent conversation. Denying scientific truth is delusional

[@daviddeida]

Yeah like believing in free will

[@dionysianapollomarx]

Thanks for this. Really rids the bad aftertaste from watching Heard and Harris. Hopefully, you get Dan Dennett, PZ Myers, or Shermer on.

[@guilhermesilveira5254]

Happy 80th birthday, professor Dawkins.

[@autumn.melody1715]

Never die RD love your dna

[@captainz2232]

*orders Ann's Cosmos companion book

[@annford6640]

There's something about Richard... "Don't kill the messenger" is an understatement. Simply put, he shows up--again and again; albeit, reluctant in compromise (or so it would seem)... though a more constant advocate the world may never know. Clarity is a double-edged sword... acutely defined yet cumbersome in its conveyance. Accommodating ones' share doesn't negate its weight. ~*~

[@m0hd.s0hail]

look at Dawkins' tie ❤

[@relaxingmindfoodandmma5108]

This is not fashion show

[@praveenkumar4859]

Ann Druyan's voice is soo soothing.

[@relaxingmindfoodandmma5108]

This is not a singing show.

[@pipbaxter5286]

I love Richard's straight talking, saying how it is, no flim flam. I did find Anne's gushing and difficulty to 'spit it out' a little too irritating.

[@jacobsosa9014]

Imagine a world full of Richard Dawkinses lol... you’re the best sir! 👍

[@iknowitall2546]

I could beat Richard Dawkins in any intellectual debate! I really am so articulate, erudite and incredibly knowledgeable on any subject. I really know it all. Oh one little thing I've forgotten to add, is that I hold Six PHD. My latest two in biology and astrophysics. I'm so special!

[@exoplanet11]

Ann Druyan is awesome...not many can stand up to the criticism of Dawkins, in this case the claim that her pastor character in Contact (played by Matthew McConaughey in the film) was too sympathetic. But she can, and did. She's right...the story one is much more powerful it 1.) his character is interesting an well developed 2.) his character engages religious people to join this discussion. I hope she lives on forever....oh...yes. She will.

[@monkerud2108]

happy birthday :)

[@emese-tundetorok1135]

I don't know how prayers can help when someone is very sick, science, medicine doctors are the ones who can help and have a positive mindset.

[@miriam3848]

We need more hate mail videos!

[@souravsahoo1582]

my first carl sagan video was he explaining fourth dimensions

[@musicasinternacionais5286]

I am dawkins fan since 1998 when you had a interview on the veja magazine. I like his job and i am atheist too. My Sister doesn't agree with my atheist. My whole family is catholic

[@IC82Hillford]

RIP Frazier x

[@alanho6814]

To that guy who clapped for everything and perhaps too loudly: We felt the passion but can you not clap that hard?

[@ballerstalin5346]

Richard Dawkins is the Prophet of Science.

[@studioelb]

My experience with religion has been problematic for ages ever since I was a little boy……. I was raised as catholic when I was 12 years old our priest was visiting our home for the holidays season, I approached him and with a low voice I asked: father may I ask you question!!! He replied yes my son I said if God exist who created God? Before I finish he screamed at me saying how dare you ask this question get out of my sight little boy. it was terrifying experience.

[@atilladebbag7356]

After minute 45 Richard Dawkins reads his hate mails. You shouldn´t miss it, it´s funny how dumb they are.

[@markrobertsministries]

He's looking awfully old. I bet his rear end is tightening up when he thinks about meeting his Creator. He knows damn well we didn't come from primates that evolved over billions of years from an amoeba.Jes smarter than that.

[@macieyid]

41:43 -- for all those folks asking "what's the harm?" or thinking that these ideas are benign

[@bigbrotherwatchesdannyboy306]

ALL DOGS ARE RELATED AND THAT PROVES THAT HUMANS AND BANANAS ARE RELATED???? THAT IS SPONGEBOB IMAGINATION!!

[@_a.z]

Richard seemed a bit grumpy! We still love him though!

[@bluegtturbo]

Let's not confuse science with philosophy.

[@connorbeveridge2006]

Ann is too soft and Dawkins is too hard. But of course both of these approaches are best in different situations and when trying to persuade different people.

[@VindensSaga]

The people who constantly applauded when Ann and Rickard are talking need to stop doing so. It is hard to hear what they said, and I honestly believe that most of them didn't even understand half of what was being said.

[@L1th0]

It was one person in particular, they sat right in front of me and it was very loud -_-

[@daviddeida]

They have no free will

[@frankdelahue9761]

Speaking of usefulness of science; synthetic biology and nanotechnology will revolutionize everything. These sciences will totally change the world.

[@Seeds-Of-The-Wayside]

I was listening to SpermSwamp and this came up in my suggestions

[@stoyanfurdzhev]

Never behind rationality!

[@DIAMINEO]

those hate letters were hilarous :D :D

[@brunodanner7777]

I would love to hear their thoughts on the ongoing UFO/UAP sightings by US Navy Pilots...

[@mastodans]

Best moments at 1:13:30

[@MrSigmatico]

And in the UK abolish the first past the post system, make something mire like a real democracy.

[@outlawmjgaming3248]

The amount of ads you put in your videos is criminal

[@Nordicroo]

Great talks here but must confess to finding Ann Druyan's slow and long ended responses frustrating to listen to. It seemed that Richard Dawkins was feeling that way too with his edginess and fidgeting. I know it may be her age or whatever but it does make it harder, at least for me, to enjoy her responses as much. Nothing personal against her, as I think she's a wonderful human being. Just a bit frustrating to listen to.

[@louisehaley5105]

Sometimes I wonder if Dawkins writes these hate-mails himself, given he enjoys reading them out so much.

[@Zagy21]

I wish the audience wouldn’t fucking clap every time Professor Dawkins opens his mouth...

[@Notalloldpeople]

A really interesting conversation. At one point Ann compares (religious) belief systems with another (scientific) belief system. Unfortunately this feeds the myth that science is a religion and if you accept a scientific world view you are part of a religion.

[@pipbaxter5286]

The word 'religion' is defined as: " A pursuit or interest followed with great devotion." eg: "consumerism is the new religion".. not just referring to a deity.

[@user-hm9eh8kv4u]

شسالفه ماكو عربي ❤

[@donwilson8299]

I was interested when they discussed evidence based science. Then they agreed on AGW. You can't agree with both of these.

[@markmountain7981]

To professor Dawkins. (Q). If the male & the female make a child that has the best of both parents & Is now more unique in ever changing diversity, is this observable proof of evolution?

[@leftyshawenuph4026]

Someone REALLY close to the mics claps: 1) early 2l loudly 3) aggressively 4) all alone 5) at odd times Once you hear it, it gets more and more irritating. It's a wonder he/she isn't removed

[@jessestaples9227]

Ads every 5 minutes.

[@abubakrali2317]

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we exalt You with praise and declare Your perfection?"He [Allah] said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." (Qu'ran 2:30) And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, "Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful." (Qu'ran 2:31) They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise." (Qu'ran 2:32) He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names." And when he had informed them of their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed." (Qu'ran 2:33) And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers. (Qu'ran 2:34) And We said, "O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers." (Qu'ran 2:35) But Satan caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that [condition] in which they had been. And We said, "Go down, [all of you], as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time." (Qu'ran 2:36) Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful. (Qu'ran 2:37) t.co/HoR4yaegsh The Purpose of Life Jeffrey Lang

[@reubenx]

Imagine Dr. Carl Sagan himself and Neil de Grasse Tyson in place of Druyan and Frazier in this conversation...

[@danishali6746]

How fucking desire popp up in mind??

[@johnnyflappyjawsteeth4945]

I don't know if you ever read this , but id love to see you explain the RNA thing again. I briefly heard you explain something about a cell that can replicate its one dimensional plane into a 3 dimensional "something" sorry im no biologist ha , but to me this sounds totally fascinating or did I completely pick that up wrong. KZbin community help also appreciated . Thanks

[@stoyanfurdzhev]

Not nearly half aware of the irrationality of his scientific convictions.

[@davidsmith5946]

how does delusion evolve?

[@mindmy609]

Become more deluted haha

[@davidsmith5946]

@@mindmy609 yeh your right.

[@DIOULASSO]

Delusion evolves similarly to a computer virus. Viruses for electronic brains have allowed us to understand that there can be similar viruses for biological brains. I submit the meme-term "Anti-Scientific Superstition" or "A.S.S." for this kind of brain-virus, i.e. someone's brain can be "Full of ASS".

[@johnsanders7306]

Can we let the "Christianity has been corrupted! The TRUE form, obviously practiced by my church, fixes all that!" thing die, already? There was never one original hegemonic Christian practice, and that's ok. It was never consistent and perfect, just like no religion ever was. The simplest and most viable explanation for this identical behavior of all religions is that none of them has ever had a true connection to any sort of wise and powerful being. That's the reality we all live in here. If you want to change that interpretation, you have to bring facts. Your bible is hearsay without exception. We're going to need direct observations of reality that demonstrate that your stories are factual. In the ~2000 years your religion has been around, and more amazingly, in the many thousands of years before that when other religions ruled the earth, nobody of any religion has managed to do so. You're not going to brush away that understanding with a "Just trust me bro, it's real" any time soon.

[@jan_kisan]

how about you also apply scientific thinking to politics and entertain the idea that there might be some objectively existing social forces behind all these Trumps? and that in society we actually have those forces fighting each other? and that the existence of such forces might have a material basis too, which might be in how we humans interact with the world, in how we support our lives - that is by production? we might as well call those forces "classes", but that would require too much intellectual courage, wouldn't it.

[@prla5400]

INDIA

[@daviddeida]

The EU.A group of unelected people making laws without peoples consent ...So called experts ,who know how to run my life better than me.Dawkins compares these people to doctors..Well how about NO

[@alittleofeverything4190]

Ken was a little annoying.

[@sagarvyas3638]

That one fuckin incessant Clapper really started to get on my nerves as the video progressed. Was it just me or is that evidently true to all?

[@tankengine5622]

Less views than most utube influencers, criminal and not reassuring

[@raviskanthanjothiravi2101]

With all respect to your service to science world, how ready are you to question the reliablity of our sense organs to perceive the actual reality. If you are a critical thinker and an advocate of rational thinking why did you all failed to identify the single method mentioned in all religions that is fasting over thirty days, meditating on a single thought in solitude for thirty days or more, this is the method to perceive that is otherwise seen as particle world. Sir, you still have time to complete your lifelong work, oherwise your work will not be studied by future generations, because their interest will be in understanding sociological behavior of the so called particle worlds, in another word parallel existence. Science's failure to not noticing, the faculties required to perceive actual reality is not present in sense organs and therefore, science fail to perceive how the particles perceive themselves, not only now but from the very beginning. I say this to you sir with all respect to your work, and it is inevitable mankind will continue to discard any mistranslation of nature, origin and interrelations. The religious texts explain the nature of particles within and without us. Happy to have meaningful debate about job is only half done or not.

[@etzie1728]

People fast and meditate all the time without coming to the realisation that a god exists. I guess god just doesn't want them to know of his presence?