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Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Richard Dawkins On Genes, Memes, AI, Religion, and Life Beyond Earth [Ep. 454]

59 min • 18 augusti 2024

Why are men's sex drives so strong? Can genetic information be destroyed? And why does the desert lizard have such intricate patterns? 


I had the extraordinary privilege of exploring these topics with Richard Dawkins, one of the world’s most influential and thought-provoking scientists!


Dawkins is a renowned evolutionary biologist, zoologist, and author. He is also a prominent figure in New Atheism alongside Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens and is well known for his criticisms of creationism and intelligent design. 


In our wide-ranging conversation, we explored the evolution of sex drive and aesthetic appreciation, genetics, the intersection of theoretical and experimental science, the potential of artificial intelligence, and more. 


Tune in!



Key Takeaways: 

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 01:56 Why is the sex drive in men so strong?
  • 04:44 DNA, origin of life and panspermia 
  • 10:28 Is there life elsewhere in the universe?
  • 14:58 Memes and their evolution 
  • 21:13 Homage to Daniel Dennett 
  • 23:20 Natural selection and evolution 
  • 26:59 The threats and opportunities of AI
  • 31:05 A shifting moral zeitgeist 
  • 35:15 Science communication 
  • 43:02 Audience questions 
  • 47:01 Technology, magic, and time capsules
  • 56:22 Outro



Additional resources: 


➡️ Learn more about Richard Dawkins:


✖️ Twitter: https://x.com/RichardDawkins/ 

💻 Website: https://richarddawkinstour.com/



➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms:


✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 

🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 

📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list 

✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 

🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast 



Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known.


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