The Genesis of Purpose - Lecture 5

Watch the final lecture from Richard Dawkins' 1991 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures series exploring how purpose and consciousness emerge in the universe. Delve into the human brain's ability to create internal models of external reality, similar to computer-generated virtual worlds, while examining its limitations and susceptibility to illusion. Learn how nature exists without inherent purpose, with meaning being a construct of our evolved consciousness. Discover why moving toward scientific modeling of the universe can help overcome indoctrination and superstition, while exploring humanity's potential for collective purpose through achievements like space exploration and the human genome project. Originally presented at the Royal Institution on December 5, 1991, this 58-minute lecture concludes Dawkins' series on how life develops from nonliving simplicity to living complexity.