How War Shaped Human Evolution - David Geary - #1172
Modern Wisdom | 05.11.2026 08:00
Dr David Geary is an evolutionary psychologist, cognitive scientist, professor at the University of Missouri, and author.
Expect to learn the disturbing reasons why humans are so intelligent, why men are obsessed with status, money, and power, the biggest differences between male and female competition, why human progress comes at the cost of bloody battles and war, why violence is an inevitability of man, and much more…
Sponsors:
Get a Free Sample Pack of LMNT’s most popular flavours with your first purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/modernwisdom
Get up to 20% off Timeline’s leading longevity and cellular health supplement at https://timeline.com/modernwisdom
Get 160+ lab tests for just $365 and save an extra $25 at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom
Get 15% off your first order of my favourite Non-Alcoholic Brew at https://athleticbrewing.com/modernwisdom
See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals
Get ChatGPT to explore ideas, solve problems, and learn faster at https://chatgpt.com
Timestamps:
(00:00) What Makes the Human Mind So Unique?
(08:58) Where Did All the Men Go 7,000 Years Ago?
(16:45) How Evolution Shaped Male and Female Reproductive Competition
(18:47) Is Male Ambition Driven by Reproductive Competition?
(21:11) Why Men and Women Compete Differently
(26:31) Did War Help Build Civilisation?
(29:38) How Civility Keeps Humanity From Chaos
(31:42) Why Humans Evolved to Imagine the Future
(37:40) Does Thinking About the Future Make Us Miserable?
(40:37) What Makes Human Babies So Unusual?
(43:49) The Modern Behaviours Only Evolution Can Explain
(49:05) Why Humans Crave Control
(53:20) Will We Ever Be Satisfied With the Control We Have?
(59:21) Would Modern Success Attributes Make Us Successful in the Past?
(01:06:05) The Most Important Principle for a Better Life
(01:08:21) Where to Find David
Extra Stuff:
Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books
Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom
Episodes You Might Enjoy:
#577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins
#712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson
#700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman
-
Get In Touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast
Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact
-
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices