Waking up in the universe - Richard Dawkins 1991 Christmas Lectures 1/5

In the first of his CHRISTMAS LECTURES, Richard Dawkins explores the origins of life. Beginning with a look at our ancestry, he shows how the probability of our existence is very small.

Watch all the lectures in this series here:    • Richard Dawkins 1991 CHRISTMAS LECTURES - ...  
Watch our newest Christmas lectures here:    • Royal Institution Christmas Lectures  

This lecture was filmed at the Ri on 1 December 1991.

These lectures were originally a YouTube member exclusive for our Science Supporters, and now we’re putting them out for everyone to watch. If you can’t wait for them all to be published, get access now by signing up as a YouTube channel member, and help us bring science to more people:    / @theroyalinstitution  

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Life grows up in the universe by gradual degrees of evolution. Billions of years ago, there existed a vast population of bacteria. But it was only an elite group of these bacteria that evolved to become humans. In truth, we are lucky to be alive.

In the first of his CHRISTMAS LECTURES, Richard Dawkins explores the origins of life. Beginning with a look at our ancestry, he shows how the probability of our existence is very small. Becoming an ancestor is much more difficult than simple reproduction, and Richard reveals how our ancestors did what it took to survive and pass on their genes.

But although some of our life must be devoted to perpetuating it, surely there must be more to it? Richard explores the role of art and culture in society, and examines how the capabilities of the human body have enabled us to accomplish complex tasks.

When it comes to our understanding of the meaning of life, science is important. As Richard explains, science can help us uncover both when we arrived on this planet, and why we are here. Some people turn to the supernatural for the answer to such questions. Richard looks at the limitations of beliefs in the supernatural and uses a cannonball to prove why instead we should have faith in science and its predictions.

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About the 1991 CHRISTMAS LECTURES
The world-famous evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins presents the CHRISTMAS LECTURES on "our own growing knowledge of how life grows up in the universe."

Just as children grow up to be adults, so too does life gradually evolve on a planet over thousands of generations, to move from “nonliving simplicity” to become “living complexity”.

Combining beautiful writing with a range of illuminating demonstrations, the series featured a variety of wildlife, a virtual reality Lecture Theatre, and special guests – including the late Douglas Adams reading an excerpt from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

This video is part of our 200th anniversary project to upload all of our televised CHRISTMAS LECTURES to YouTube. Find out more about the Ri CHRISTMAS LECTURES here: https://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures

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We have uploaded Richard Dawkins’ 1991 CHRISTMAS LECTURES to YouTube as part of our commitment to make all past series of the CHRISTMAS LECTURES available to everyone worldwide.

But we also want to make it clear that we consider Richard Dawkins’ more recent opinions about members of marginalised communities to be unacceptable. Although we respect everyone's right to form opinions in scientific debate, or in their own lives, if those opinions are built upon discrimination or hostility, we reserve the right not to validate them.

Find out more about our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. https://www.rigb.org/about-us/equity-...

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