Edward Slingerland is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Distinguished University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia, where he also holds appointments in the Departments of Psychology and Asian Studies. From January to June each academic year he also serves as Visiting Professor in the Department of Religion at Dartmouth. Educated at Princeton, Stanford and UC Berkeley, he has taught at the University of Colorado, Boulder, the University of Southern California and the University of British Columbia.
In \"Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization\", Professor Slingerland outlines the case for drinking alcohol, how it has impacted society, shaped friendships, established romantic relationships and contributed to the development and success of the human race. Professor Slingerland argues that alcohol, the king of social lubricants, can indeed be a force for good in the world if used mindfully, carefully and in moderation. We would not have civilization without intoxication.
00:00 Intro and origin story
07:45 How alcohol created civilization
10:01 Alcohol before agriculture?
12:00 The invention of alcohol
13:21 The creativity paradox and the prefrontal cortex
16:37 Alcohol and creativity
17:12 Alcohol, the biphasal curve and the brain
21:07 Alcohol content and the dangers
25:08 Anxiety
28:00 Alcohol, the arts and ideas
30:10 David Nutt's cancellation and alcohol alternatives
36:00 The price of drinking and the costs
37:00 Is alcoholism actually cultural (Northern v Southern)
43:00 Ireland's drinking culture
49:13 Drinking, Society, Politics
54:37 Alcohol, technology and Ai
","author_name":"Conor Ryan"}