Jan Engelmann PhD - UC Berkeley

Jan Engelmann PhD - UC Berkeley

The Evolution of Human Intelligence

Marin Philosophical Society – 5/18 – San Rafael

Philosophy has long asked what it means to be human - the distinctive qualities that set us apart as builders of civilizations.

Working at the intersection of science and philosophy, Jan Engelmann, UC Berkeley Professor of Comparative Psychology, explores the evolution of human intelligence by comparing human and chimpanzee cognition - species that share nearly 99% of our DNA and a common evolutionary pathway until about 7 million years ago.

His research reveals both striking similarities and critical differences, offering fresh insight into how we think, learn, cooperate, and what truly sets the human mind apart.

His work builds on a tradition of primate research advanced by Jane Goodall at Gombe Stream National Park, which transformed our understanding of the emotional, cognitive, and social lives of our closest relatives.

As artificial intelligence advances, we are confronted with a compelling question:

What is uniquely human about the way we think?

Jan Engelmann PhD is Professor of Psychology and Affiliate Professor of Philosophy at UC Berkeley. He earned his PhD in Psychology, at Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig Germany. He has been awarded research grants from Leakey Foundation and National Science Foundation.

VenturePad, 1020 B Street, San Rafael – 12:00 to 1:30 – (light snacks) – convenient public parking at B Street & Third Street