The Evolution of Cities

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Your argument would appeal to simon conway morris, the evolutionary theorist at oxford i just had on the show. His thing is convergent evolution, that that it's not as random and contingent as steve gould used to argue. And he clashed on this and that certain things happen over and over. It's a lot like the evolution of cities. Basing is different thin boston, which is different from south hollo, but they all have very similar dynamics. If i don't know anything about cities in australia, i can make some very concrete predictions about what we'll find if we look at cities in Australia or anywhere else.

Why do you exist? How did atoms and molecules transform into sentient creatures that experience longing, regret, compassion, and even marvel at their own existence? What does it truly mean to have a mind―to think? Science has offered few answers to these existential questions until now.

Michael Shermer speaks with computational neuroscientist, Ogi Ogas, about his unified account of the mind that explains how consciousness, language, self-awareness, and civilization arose incrementally out of chaos, and how leading cities and nation-states are developing “superminds,” and perhaps planting the seeds for even higher forms of consciousness.