Reading Ancient Minds: Metaphor, Culture, and Complexity

Explore the profound impact of culture on human societies in this thought-provoking lecture by Scott Ortman, SFI Omidyar Fellow. Challenge the traditional view that material forces dominate societal development and delve into the power of conceptual metaphors as building blocks of human systems. Discover how cutting-edge archaeological methods and linguistic analysis can uncover these metaphors, providing deeper insights into the critical role of culture in shaping human history. Gain a fresh perspective on the interplay between tangible forces and intangible human conceptualizations, from currencies to laws, and their influence on the complexity of civilizations.