The DemystifySci Podcast What's Changing Human Evolution? - Dr. Liane Gabora (Part 2) , DemystifySci #391
Jan 8, 2026
Dr. Liane Gabora, a cognitive science and cultural evolution researcher, dives deep into how culture, creativity, and choice shape human evolution. She argues that ideas evolve through social dynamics rather than mere genetic transmission. The conversation explores concepts like autocatalytic networks, the balance between creators and imitators, and the pitfalls of meme theory. Gabora emphasizes the importance of nurturing creativity and making conscious choices about tradition versus innovation, highlighting the co-evolution of biological and cultural systems.
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Phase Transition To Cumulative Culture
- Cultural evolution became cumulative around ~100,000 years ago, enabling exploration of conceptual space beyond mere tool use.
- This phase transition parallels early life autocatalytic systems gaining memory and agency, driving cultural complexity.
Hidden Memories Await Reminders
- Liane recounts how dreams or drug experiences can remain inaccessible until a contextual trigger reminds you of them.
- These memories sit outside your autocatalytic worldview until they get woven in by a reminding event.
Balance Between Creators And Imitators
- Societies perform best when there's a balance between creators and imitators, according to agent-based simulations.
- Creators generate novelty while imitators spread proven ideas, enabling cumulative adaptive change.
