342 | Rachell Powell on Evolutionary Convergence, Morality, and Mind

The podcast explores the debate between contingency and convergence in evolution, questioning whether life's history is a series of unique, unpredictable events or if there are inevitable patterns. Philosopher Rachel Powell discusses how evolutionary biologists and physicists view the likelihood of extraterrestrial life differently due to the contingency phenomenon. Powell critiques the "bundling fallacy," where traits are assumed to occur together, and highlights Stephen Jay Gould's "rewinding the tape of life" thought experiment. The conversation examines convergence in intelligence across species, such as bees and social insects, and delves into the evolution and fragility of human morality, suggesting humans' unique capacity for cumulative culture may be a contingent development. Ultimately, the discussion considers humanity's long-term prospects, contemplating whether humans will become the "domesticate" of AI and questioning the ethical implications of human extinction.