An episode from 1/24/22: How did the evolutionary ability to stand on two feet, freeing our hands for all kinds of practical and creative activities, eventually lead to the development of language? Was the slow and painstaking path that led to what we call creativity, language, art, and religion—was it inevitable? And is it unfortunate what we’ve done with these gifts today?

Tonight, I read a handful of sections from Steven Mithen’s book ⁠The Prehistory of the Mind: A Search for the Origins of Art, Religion and Science⁠.

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Any comments, or suggestions for readings I should make in later episodes, can be emailed to ⁠[email protected]⁠.