Are Humans Uniquely Unique?

The Infinite Monkey Cage

BBC

Comedy, Science

4.7 • 9.4K Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2014

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Are humans uniquely unique?

Robin Ince and Brian Cox are joined on stage by human and non-human ape experts Keith Jensen, Katie Slocombe and Ross Noble to ask whether humans are truly unique amongst animal species. They'll be looking at why studying our nearest relative, the chimpanzee, could reveal clues as to how humans evolved some of the traits that make us stand out, such as language, culture and truly altruistic cooperation, or whether these are traits that are now being uncovered in our primate cousins. They'll also be revealing why a chimpanzee could be classified as far more rational than its human counterpart.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, I'm Robin Enz.
0:01.4	And I'm Brian Cox.
0:02.4	And welcome to the podcast version of The Infilate Monkey Cage,
0:05.3	which contains extra material that wasn't considered good enough for the radio.
0:09.2	Enjoy it.
0:10.2	Hello, I'm Brian Cox.
0:11.2	Today we're discussing human evolution.
0:13.4	Oh, whether it indeed happened.
0:15.4	Do you have them?
0:17.2	Do humans have unique capabilities that set them apart from all other animals?
0:21.4	Oh, all animals actually just unique in their own way.
0:24.0	I mean, what right do I have to say that Brian is in any way superior to an octopus or some slime mold?
0:31.0	Are humans the only animals to have language, display altruism and build complex social structures?
0:37.0	Yeah, but then again, what is society anyway?
0:39.0	What is language?
0:40.0	Is there any point to it really?
0:41.0	I mean, in some ways, is the curfew tolls the nela of parting day,
0:46.0	the lowing herd, whine slowly, over the lee?
0:49.0	Really any better than...
0:50.4	Oh!
0:51.4	Ah!
0:52.4	Oh!
	...

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