A conversation about flourishing, suffering, and spirituality
Evolutionary science teaches that humans arose from a population, sharing common ancestors with other animals. Most readers of the book of Genesis in the past understood all humans descended from Adam and Eve, a couple specially created by God. These two teachings seem contradictory, but is that necessarily so?
What if the traditional biblical account is somehow true, with the origins of Adam and Eve taking place alongside evolution? Building on well-established but overlooked science, Swamidass explains how it's possible for Adam and Eve to be rightly identified as the ancestors of everyone.
What does it mean to be human?
As artificial intelligence continues to rival or surpass human abilities in different areas, it raises profound questions about what it means to be human and about the moral status of both human beings and artificial intelligence. Could a machine become a sentient being? If it did, how would we know? What moral status might it have? How do our answers to these questions affect how humans think about themselves? These questions call for thoughtful conversation rather than soundbites.
