Richard Dawkins
English ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author (born 1941)
Common Themes
Videos Mentioning Richard Dawkins
Eric Lewis on The Portal (with host Eric Weinstein), Ep. #028 - The Singular Genius of Elew
Eric Weinstein
Quoted for the heuristic that the power of an idea can be measured as what it explains divided by what it must assume.
197 - The science of obesity & how to improve nutritional epidemiology | David Allison, Ph.D
Peter Attia MD
Referenced in the context of 'the selfish gene' perspective on reproduction, explaining the inefficiency of sexual reproduction from a gene's point of view.
Reality Check: A Conversation with David Wallace-Wells (Episode #365)
Sam Harris
Collaborated with Sam Harris, Dan Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens on 'The Four Horsemen'.
Francis Collins: National Institutes of Health (NIH) | Lex Fridman Podcast #238
Lex Fridman
A prominent evolutionary biologist and vocal atheist.
David Buss: Sex, Dating, Relationships, and Sex Differences | Lex Fridman Podcast #282
Lex Fridman
Cited for his quote on mortality: 'We are all going to die and we're the lucky ones,' implying gratitude for the chance to exist.
Rick Rubin: Legendary Music Producer | Lex Fridman Podcast #275
Lex Fridman
A British evolutionary biologist whose notion of 'memes' as ideas using brains to multiply, select, compete, and evolve is referenced by Lex.
Is Moral Progress a Fantasy?: A Conversation with John Gray (Episode #354)
Sam Harris
Criticized by John Gray for his theory of memes, which Gray argued would favor 'fittest' (most virulent) memes, not necessarily the best.
Jimmy Carr: The Easiest Way To Live A Happier Life | E106
The Diary Of A CEO
Ethologist and evolutionary biologist, known for his work in atheism, whose intellectual approach Carr contrasts with his own more emotional experience of losing faith.
Generosity, Cynicism, and the Future of Doing Good: A Conversation with Chris Anderson(Episode #349)
Sam Harris
Author of 'The Selfish Gene', whose work is referenced in the discussion about evolutionary biology and the origins of altruism.
Brian Greene: Quantum Gravity, The Big Bang, Aliens, Death, and Meaning | Lex Fridman Podcast #232
Lex Fridman
Evolutionary biologist and author whom Brian Greene asked for a definition of life, confirming Greene's notion of life as a continuum.
Garry Nolan: UFOs and Aliens | Lex Fridman Podcast #262
Lex Fridman
His 'Selfish Gene' hypothesis is referenced in the context of the origins of DNA.
Ep. 200: Feedback Councils, Decoding the Deep Life, and Becoming a Writer | Deep Questions Podcast
Cal Newport
Associated with the 'new atheist' movement of the early 2000s.
Brian Keating: Cosmology, Astrophysics, Aliens & Losing the Nobel Prize | Lex Fridman Podcast #257
Lex Fridman
Ethologist and prominent atheist, contrasted with Freeman Dyson's agnosticism.
Using Meditation to Focus, View Consciousness & Expand Your Mind | Dr. Sam Harris
Andrew Huberman
A hard-headed skeptic who Sam Harris 'ambushed' with guided meditation, but who found nothing of interest to see, highlighting how some individuals may not be naturally receptive to meditation without prior transformative experiences like psychedelics.
How Humans Select & Keep Romantic Partners in Short & Long Term | Dr. David Buss
Andrew Huberman
Author of 'The Selfish Gene', a book in whose 1976 preface Robert Trivers first advanced the self-deception hypothesis.
The Books I Read in January | 2022
Cal Newport
Associated with the New Atheism movement, mentioned as someone who helped package arguments against religion.
Full Length Episode | #172 | February 10, 2022
Cal Newport
A prominent figure associated with the New Atheist movement.
Making Sense of Belief and Unbelief
Sam Harris
Author of 'The God Delusion,' mentioned as a contemporary of Sam Harris in the 'New Atheist movement.'
Jeff Hawkins: The Thousand Brains Theory of Intelligence | Lex Fridman Podcast #208
Lex Fridman
Praised Jeff Hawkins' book 'A Thousand Brains' as 'brilliant and exhilarating'.
Making Sense of Free Will
Sam Harris
A member of the 'Four Horsemen of new atheism' alongside Sam Harris and Dan Dennett.
Bret Weinstein: Truth, Science, and Censorship in the Time of a Pandemic | Lex Fridman Podcast #194
Lex Fridman
An admired evolutionist who illustrates that significant scientific contributions can be made through synthetic work published in books, rather than solely through peer-reviewed journal papers.
Rob Reid: The Existential Threat of Engineered Viruses and Lab Leaks | Lex Fridman Podcast #193
Lex Fridman
Evolutionary biologist and author, whose concept of 'memes' as units of cultural information is discussed.
Diana Walsh Pasulka: Aliens, Technology, Religion & the Nature of Belief | Lex Fridman Podcast #149
Lex Fridman
Referenced in connection with the 'meme idea' of how religions function as adaptive tools for ideas.
Preparing for the End: A Conversation with BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger (Episode #297)
Sam Harris
Biologist mentioned as part of the 'new atheist' movement with Sam Harris.