Aspiration and Shame as Cultural Engines

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

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