[~70,000BCE] - Language: The Cognitive Revolution that gave us Words, Art, Religion, Shame and Execution

How complex language evolved during the cognitive revolution, changing humanity and the world.

Discover how language transformed from simple grunts and hand signals to complex communication, enabling us to cooperate, create cultures, invent stuff and build civilizations. We explore the evolution of human imagination, the role of gossip, the development of societal morals, and the paradoxical nature of human violence and compassion.

Additionally, we discuss the future of communication technology and the potential mind-blowing implications of brain-computer interfaces. Packed with insights from anthropology, psychology, and neuroscience, this episode provides a comprehensive understanding of our past and a glimpse into our possible future.

ABOUT How to Change the World is an independent podcast documenting the entire history of innovation. One world-changing event at a time. In the process we are building out frameworks and mental models to think more coherently about global change and the future of technology.

ChangeTheWorldPod.com

Written, edited, recorded, and produced by Sam Webster Harris.

Help from: Designs - Francisca Correia (available to hire) Mentorship - Jeremy Enns (available to hire)

REFERENCES Richard Wrangham: Ape society lessons in human cooperation and violence - The Goodness Paradox | Demonic Males Nicholas Shea: How we make and use concepts - Concepts as Plug and Play Devices | Concepts at the Interface Steven Mithen: Evolution of the brain and language - Prehistory of the Mind | The Language Puzzle Yuval Noah Harari: Cognitive revolution and myths - Sapiens Christopher Boehm: How morals shape society - Moral Origins Tim Urban: Future of brain computer interfaces - Neuralink and the Brains Magical Future

CHAPTERS 00:00 The magic of co-operation 02:26 Welcome 05:09 The Compression problem 08:50 ACT 1 - COGNITIVE BASIS OF LANGUAGE 08:50 Biological history of languages 13:46 The Interconnected Brain 17:24 Complex words and stuff 21:11 Teamwork 22:08 ACT 2 - GOSSIP, MYTHS & RELIGION 22:08 Gossip and the glue of society 25:46 Myths and shared delusions 30:40 Early Religions - Animism, art and penises 33:37 ACT 3 - SELF-DOMESTICATION 33:43 Shame and Blushing 38:30 The Execution Hypothesis 43:21 Reactive vs Proactive Violence 46:55 Mealtimes Sharing and small town thinking 52:12 ACT 4 - EVOLUTIONS OF LANGUAGE 52:12 Language shifts 55:59 Shame and Society 58:49 ACT 5 - FUTURE OF COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 01:01:33 Brain Computer Interfaces 01:07:38 Predicting the future 01:09:47 WRAP UP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.