On Humans

Wealth on planet Earth is not evenly distributed. Indeed, our country of birth predicts a huge amount of our access to food and technology. Although such differences have always existed, they have become dramatically accentuated in the past two centuries. During the early 1800s, the average income of a person living in the richest region of the world was 3 times higher than that of a person living in the poorest region. Today, it is 15 times, or even 100 times higher.*To understand the human condition today, we have to understand our economic geography. This is the theme of the 2nd part of Oded Galor’s remarkable book, Journey of Humanity (see also episode 12). In this 2nd episode on Journey of Humanity, Ilari and Professor Galor discuss topics such as: The deep impact of colonialism Could Europe have industrialised without oppressing the rest of the world? Why are some colonial "spinoffs" rich (e.g. the US) and others are not (e.g. Brazil)? Political institutions (e.g. capitalism, liberal democracy), especially the differences between inclusive vs extractive institutions How the Black Death transformed Europe. How cultural norms are shaped by geography (e.g. the quality of the soil) The costs and benefits of a diverse societyThe conversation also explores: How to use this historical outlook to build a better future: solutions for low- and middle-income countries. What to do about the current inequalities within nations? Will we survive the 21st century?Technical terms Malthusian trap (where increases in wealth are “eaten away” by increases in population size) Human capital (i.e. investment in the skills of the population) Extractive vs inclusive institutions (terms popularised in economics by the work of Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson in Why Nations Fail) Glorious Revolution and the Bill of Rights in England (1688) The middle-income trap (based on the observation that only 14 countries have been able to go from "middle-income" to "high-income" status since 1960. In 2019, these were dominated by the East Asian economies of Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, but joined by Chile, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Malaysia, Malta, Portugal, Seychelles, and Spain [e.g. Lee 2019])Names Kenneth Pomerantz (author of The Great Divergence) James II of England, Louis XIV of France, William of Orange Karl Marx Thomas PikettyGet in touch Feedback? Guest suggestions? Just want to say "hi"? It would be great to hear from you! Feel free to drop a casual line anytime to makela dot ilari at outlook dot com.* The exact number depends on how we define an "area". The estimates are from Journey of Humanity and are discussed in episode 12.

Oded Galor, an esteemed economist known for his insights into economic history, dives into humanity's journey towards wealth and inequality. He explores the puzzling stagnation before the recent wealth boom and reflects on whether agriculture was indeed humanity's worst mistake. The conversation touches on how education played a pivotal role in escaping the Malthusian trap and the transformational impact of the Industrial Revolution in shaping economic standards. Galor's perspectives challenge traditional narratives and shed light on the roots of today's economic disparities.

Ilari is taking some time off for Christmas and New Year. Instead of new episodes, this holiday season features some highlights from this fall's conversations. This highlight revisits episode 1, where Ilari and Patricia Churchland discuss free will and neurophilosophy. For links and references, see the original episode.

Ilari is taking some time off for Christmas and New Year. Instead of new episodes, this holiday season features some highlights from this fall's conversations. This highlight revisits episode 3, where Ruth Feldman explores the tricky relationship between the neurobiology of love and xenophobia. The discussion also touches upon early attachment as a source of our capacity to bond with others.  This discussion includes studies on building relationships between Israeli and Palestinian youth, as well as studies on the capacity of fathers, including gay fathers, in providing equal care as primary caregivers. For links and references, see the original episode.

Ilari is taking some time off for Christmas and New Year. Instead of new episodes, this holiday season features some highlights from this fall's conversations. This highlight revisits episode 2, where Philip Kitcher explores the relationship between secular humanism and religion. For links and references, see the original episode. 

Why do we love? And how much does our culture shape the way we do so?In this episode, Ilari talks with Helen Fisher about the powers that drive and shape our romantic relationships. Ilari and Professor Fisher discuss: Is romantic love a modern invention? Is monogamy a social invention?  Do men care more about sex? Do women care more about romance? Why agriculture, especially with the plough, caused havoc in romantic relationships. Why divorces might be on the decline. A science-based guide for maintaining romantic relations (based on couples who are still in love after 25 years) Why (certain) antidepressants can kill the sex drive and blunt romantic love (to read more, see the end of the notes) How common is polygamy or polyandry? Where in the world do we find most "free love"? Why did homosexuality evolve?Names mentioned Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt (as recounted by Alison Gopnik in her The Gardener and the Carpenter) Bill Jankowiak Robert Sternberg (see episode 7) Anderson Thompson Bertrand Russell Technical terms and ethnic groups mentioned Ventral tegmental area VTA Hypothalamus Dopamine, testosterone, oxytocin, vasopressin, serotonine Monogamy (serial or lifelong; social or biological) Polygamy (several wives) and polyandry (several husbands)  Tlingit (the polyandrous Inuit society with wealthy women) Oneida community (in New York State)Dig DeeperAntidepressants: To read more about the possible effects of SSRIs on sex drive and romantic love, see Tocco and Brumbaugh (2019). Below is a list of possible alternatives or complements to SSRIs (please consult with your doctor in all matters related to pharmaceuticals): Fisher herself suggested that SNRIs could be less risky than SSRIs. Theoretically, dopamine reuptake inhibitors, such as bupropion, could also counter the risks associated with SSRIs (for a review, see Zisook et al. 2006). For alternative or complementary oral treatments of depression, see research on supplementation with a high dosage of Omega 3 (EPA and DHA, not ALA) (for a review, see Bhat & Ara 2015).Polyamory: In the episode, Professor Fisher suggests that many Amazonian tribes have informal polyandry, i.e. women have many partners, albeit only one formal husband. However, there are non-academic sources suggesting that formalised polyandry is common in the Zo’é community in Amazon. For some of these photos of Zo’é and other Amazonian tribes, many of whom exhibit remarkably liberal attitudes to sex, see the recent Amazonia exhibition in the London Science Museum.

Philosopher of science, Anna Alexandrova, discusses the science of happiness, including what happiness questionnaires measure, the Easterlin paradox, diverse measures of happiness, and the validity of the World Happiness Report. The podcast also explores the role of experts in society and the crisis of expertise.

What is it like to be a non-human animal? Can neuroscience tell us the answer?In one of the most famous philosophy essays of the 20th century, Thomas Nagel suggested that we can never use science to know what it is like to be another animal, say, a bat. Neuroscience can describe bat physiology. But it can never tell us “what it is like to be a bat”.Gregory Berns is an animal neuroscientist. As you might guess, he disagrees with Nagel.Berns is a pioneer in using fMRI scanning on dogs (who in his lab, participate voluntarily). And Berns believes that studying the dog brain can tell us what it is like to be a dog - or at least, give us a hint.In this discussion, Ilari and Prof Berns discuss: Do dogs love their owners? The origins and findings of the Dog Project. Would Nagel actually disagree with Berns’ conclusions? Is attributing human emotions to dogs a form of anthropomorphism? The Panksepp vs Barrett debate in affective neuroscience: Are emotions hardwired to our brain? Or are they dependent on concepts and language? Animal welfare and speciesism: Are some species "special" in relevant ways? How do Prof Berns and Ilari approach the issue of animal welfare in their diets?Names mentioned Rene Descartes (French philosopher, 1596-1650) Thomas Nagel (20th Century, 1937-) Jeremy Bentham (British philosopher & utilitarian, 1748-1832) Jaak Panksepp (Estonian-American neuroscientist, 1943-2017) Lisa Feldman Barrett (American neuroscientist, 1963-) Hal Hertzhog (anthrozoologist)Technical terms mentioned fMRI (brain scanning technology) PET (brain scanning technology) Chemotaxis Claustrum Brain stemExtra points Get in touch: email makela.ilari@outlook.com or form https://on-humans.podcastpage.io/contact Ilari’s bonus recommendation (not a paid promotion): Gourmet-level insect foods from YumBug https://www.yumbug.com/shop

Douglas P. Fry, an anthropologist and expert on the origins of war, challenges the notion that conflict is innate to humans. He discusses the archaeological evidence for war's recent development, arguing that many hunter-gatherers are actually peaceful. Fry critiques misleading narratives about historical violence, comparing modern assumptions with ancient data. He also reflects on the complexities of aggression in mammals, particularly in relation to human nature and societal structure, advocating for a nuanced understanding of conflict.

We often treat love as a single emotion. But simple questions like “how much do you love me?” can be misleading. Love is not a single dimension. It is a multitude. To really understand romantic bonds, a more nuanced vocabulary is needed.Robert Sternberg is famous for creating such vocabulary.Sternberg is a professor at Cornell University, where he teaches legendary classes on topics like intelligence (beyond IQ), wisdom, creativity, and of course, love and hate. But he is more than your average psychology professor: he is the 2nd most cited psychologist alive.*In this discussion, Sternberg joins Ilari and his co-host, Blake Robertson, to discuss the elements of love and hate, and how to use these insights to create a better world.Names & technical terms mentioned John Bowlby’s attachment theory Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences Alison Gopnik (quoted from conversation with Ezra Klein) Agatha Christie Joan Crawford Anthony Ray Hinton, the author of The Sun Does Shine Henry Hays, the only KKK member in the 20th Century to suffer capital punishment due to lynchings by the KKK. References The Triangular Theory of Love (1986 paper) Triangular Theory Tested in 25 Countries (2021 paper) LoveMultiverse.com (website by Karin & Robert Sternberg) Dutton & Aron high bridge -experiment (1974 paper) Nature of Hate (book by Robert Sternberg & Karin Sternberg)* After Martin Seligman, excluding neuroscientists and behavioural economists. Based on Google Scholar profiles in November 2022.