Via the internet, I’ve recently been watching an excellent series of televised lectures by a leading researcher in palaeoanthropology at the Collège de France. I am by no means a specialist in this field and a lot of what he has to say is too technical for me and goes over my head. But I understand enough to feel reassured in a conclusion I had already reached, namely that philosophical attempts to explain human consciousness in evolutionary terms are, and probably always will be, doomed to failure, as are attempts in the philosophy of art to explain art in evolutionary terms. (I should add that the lectures in question don’t address either question specifically; they’re about human evolution generally.)

I’ve read very little of the relevant philosophical literature (and most of what I have read relates to art) because I tend to avoid topics that strike me as a waste of time. But I’m aware that there are some who would disagree with me and who believe that philosophy has important things to say about the evolution of human consciousness (and/or art).

I’m starting this thread to see if any Philpapers contributors would like to discuss the topic – either as it relates to consciousness or to art, or both if you like.  Perhaps you agree with my position? Or perhaps you think I can, and should, be shot down in ignominious flames? Either way, I’d be interested, especially as the topic seems to be “in the air” at the moment.