What if consciousness, much like the architectural 'spandrels' we talked about before, isn't actually crucial to our survival? Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Lewontin argued that some traits might just be byproducts, not directly selected for their utility. We'll unravel this thread by retracing the steps of René Descartes on a cold night in 1619 when he conceived ideas that challenged our understanding of reality. Was his revelation in a cozy 'oven' room the birth of modern philosophy, or a deeper insight into the illusions crafted by our own minds? Descartes' meditations prompted us to doubt our senses and the very nature of reality, suggesting that maybe, just maybe, our lives are nothing but elaborate deceptions.

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Music in this Episode

• Ghost by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com
• Steppin Into by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com
• Lilywhite by Podington Bear, License (CC BY 3.0): Artist website: soundofpicture.com