In 2008, the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins presented The Genius of Charles Darwin, a three-part documentary that was later named “Best TV Documentary Series” at the British Broadcast Awards. During the filming of the program, Dawkins interviewed various experts — biologists, philosophers, clergyman, evolutionary psychologists, etc. — and wound up with 18 hours of raw footage. Some of the uncut interviews have now made their way online (as well as DVD), and we’re highlighting a few today.
Above, Dawkins spends a good while with Peter Singer, the Princeton philosopher, otherwise known as the Father of the Animal Rights Movement. The wide-ranging conversation continually comes back to animal rights and vegetarianism and why Darwinism lends support to both. The best part comes toward the end, when Singer tells Dawkins (a meat eater), “I have assimilated Darwin on this issue better than you have because …. you’re still influenced by these vestiges of religious belief that separate us from the animals….” Dawkins out-Dawkinsed.
Other uncut interviews feature conversations with Steven Pinker, Daniel Dennett, and Craig Venter.
Related note: We’d like to thank RichardDawkins.net for re-broadcasting our post earlier this week: 50 Famous Academics & Scientists Talk About God
They worshipped and served created things, rather than the Creator.
This was lovely. I can’t remember the last time I was privy to a debate/conversation with such high levels of passion and such low levels of animosity. No one was trying to ‘win’, just to chase the ideas as far as they could be chased.
Peter Singer is a fool. The distinction between animal and vegetal has mainly been constructed by… the bible. Woops.. this construction is the backbone of his philophy…