February 09, 2021

UK politics with Chloe Ward; Peter Godfrey-Smith delves into animal minds and the birth of consciousness; Reviewing Australia’s environmental laws – the verdict

2 hours 7 minutes

Philosopher and diver Peter Godfrey-Smith speaks in-depth about his new book, Metazoa: Animal Minds and the Birth of Consciousness. Peter explains how conscious experience evolved from animals in the sea millions of years ago. He introduces us to some of the fascinating creatures he meets on his scuba dives; sponges, soft coral, banded shrimp, giant cuttlefish, and hermit crabs. Peter is a professor in the School of History and Philosophy of Science at The University of Sydney. University of Melbourne conservation ecologist professor Brendan Wintle returns to talk about the major recommendations made to the federal government from the independent review of Australia’s environment laws (the EPBC Act). Will these recommended changes, if implemented in full, protect the environment? Historian Dr Chloe Ward from RMIT will call in to discuss the latest in UK politics, with England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland still in a strict lockdown to get on top of COVID-19 cases which are currently about 14,000 each day.

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