What it Means to Be Human

Interesting 5-part video from the World Science Festival.

Drawing on a range of disciplines, this provocative program looked at how discoveries in areas like fundamental physics, anthropology, and genomics are influencing our understanding of uniquely human characteristics. As science increasingly tests these boundaries — from the roots of morality and our capacity to contemplate our own existence to the emergence of artificial intelligence — what will it mean to be human?

The event was moderated by Charlie Rose. Participants include philosopher Daniel Dennett, artist Jonathan Harris, anthropologist Ian Tattersall, geneticist Francis Collins, neuroscientist Antonio Damasio, philosopher Patricia Churchland, sociologist Nikolas Rose, embryonic stem cell biologist Renee Reijo Pera, and Nobel Laureates Harold Varmus and Paul Nurse.

Part One:

World Science Festival 2008: What It Means To Be Human. Part 1 of 5 from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Part Two:

World Science Festival 2008: What It Means To Be Human. Part 1 of 5 from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Part Three:

World Science Festival 2008: What It Means to Be Human, Part 3 of 5 from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Part Four:

World Science Festival 2008: What it Means to be Human, Part 4 of 5 from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Part Five:

World Science Festival 2008: What it Means to be Human, Part 5 of 5 from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Tags: consciousness, brain, Psychology, anthropology, What it Means to Be Human, Charlie Rose, Daniel Dennett, Jonathan Harris, Ian Tattersall, Francis Collins, neuroscience, Antonio Damasio, Patricia Churchland, Nikolas Rose, Renee Reijo Pera, Harold Varmus, Paul Nurse