A Taste of Wonder

Richard, Tomas, and Peter

The large theatre hall was filled with people from far beyond Antwerp and even Belgium. At first glance, they might not have seemed any different from the usual theatre junkies, but it was undoubtedly a peculiar gathering of characters. What we anticipated that night was far removed from traditional art forms — no drama or comedy, no music, and certainly no dancing. We came in search of the elusive art of wonder. We were all there to see and hear the famous evolutionary biologist, Prof. Richard Dawkins.

The event was part of a world tour promoting his latest book, The Genetic Book of the Dead. Many of us ordered it along with the tickets, so the foyer of the theatre was filled with people proudly clutching the fresh blue hardcovers.

The first unforgettable moment of the event presented itself before the show even began, in the restroom of the lobby. It was quite crowded, but I couldn’t help but notice one man engrossed in his copy of the new book. That alone might have seemed slightly out of place in a public toilet, but what made the scene truly priceless was the fact that he held the book using both hands. Shoulder to shoulder with other men at the row of urinals, he was utterly absorbed in the scientific piece he was leafing through, hilariously detached from the bodily function taking place below!

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Rather than a lecture, the evening unfolded as a discussion with the host, Prof. Peter Boghossian (of the Sokal Squared fame). Watching the two professors interact on stage was a delight. More often than not, Dawkins' responses were so precise, well-articulated, and complete that — had they been transcribed — they could have been published verbatim. Perhaps a tad slower physically these days, he was as incisive, rational and honest as ever, captivating the audience with his stories and insights. The discussion ranged widely, touching on biology and evolution, philosophy, science education, wokeism and fake news, and — of course — critiquing organized religion. The speakers eagerly followed the threads wherever they led, but it happened sometimes that they would agree that they did not know the answer to a particular question. Dawkins took pleasure in emphasizing that "I don't know" is a perfectly acceptable answer by a scientist, since science is a method rather than a definitive source of knowledge. It was a masterclass in cultivated and thoughtful discourse.

Part of the evening naturally focussed on the new book, where Dawkins explores the fascinating idea that every living creature may be considered as an archive of its ancestral worlds. For instance, the intricate patterns on a perfectly camouflaged desert lizard's skin reflect the arid landscapes where its ancestors once thrived. Every aspect of an organism — its body, biochemistry, and behaviour — can be 'read' as a record of the environments that shaped its lineage. Dawkins speculates that future biologists, equipped with advanced technologies and deeper knowledge, might one day be able to describe the ancient worlds of any organism's ancestors in remarkable detail.

I was also impressed by his giraffe story, which simultaneously supported evolutionary theory and highlighted the redundancy of any deity. Some years ago, Dawkins participated in the autopsy of a giraffe. The focus was on the beast's recurrent laryngeal nerve — a feature that only makes sense in light of evolutionary history. This nerve connects the brain to the larynx but takes an inefficient detour through the chest, looping around the aorta before returning to the larynx. The giraffe’s extremely long neck exaggerates this route, highlighting the evolutionary origin of the nerve. In fish, from which all tetrapods evolved, it ran directly to the gills. As necks elongated over millions of years, the nerve retained its original path rather than evolving a shorter, more efficient one. This inefficiency illustrates evolution's tendency to gradually modify existing structures rather than designing optimally. Dawkins emphasized this as strong evidence for evolution and a challenge to intelligent design, which one would expect to produce more efficient anatomical systems.

One of the questions from the audience addressed the continued evolution of humans. Dawkins explained that evolution occurs in isolated groups faced with local environmental challenges. However, humans are no longer isolated in this way — certainly not for durations significant from an evolutionary perspective. He also reflected on the evolution of human intelligence. In the past, individuals and groups that were best adapted and most innovative in managing their lives tended to have more surviving offspring, driving the collective intellectual advancement of humanity. Dawkins questioned whether this dynamic still holds true today, leaving much to our imagination.

Another audience question raised concerns about the perceived threat of returning Trumpism, with its authoritarian tendencies, disregard for evidence, and chaotic rhetoric. Dawkins suggested viewing such issues within a broader historical context. Looking at the past century, humanity has faced significant challenges but also achieved undeniable progress. Consider the advancement of human, women’s, and children’s rights; the steady decline in violence (despite occasional flare-ups); the widespread access to education and information; the reduction of extreme poverty; and the growing reliance on data and science over outdated belief systems. These milestones represent enduring gains for the global population — achievements that continue to develop despite temporary setbacks. Progress, similar to natural evolution, is not a straight line. Regressions, like the leadership of Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin, are best understood as momentary disruptions within a much larger and overwhelmingly positive trajectory.

Nevertheless, both speakers acknowledged the unfortunate spread of fake news, pseudoscience, wokeism, and zealous political correctness — issues amplified by the social media bubbles so prevalent in our time. While there are no simple solutions for these complex phenomena, Dawkins astutely noted that each of us can overcome false intuitions, cognitive biases, and ignorance through reading, learning, and — most importantly — critical thinking.

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Every show has an end, but this one had two. After the final bows and a long, heartwarming applause, most of the spectators gradually filtered out of the auditorium. All except for the first two rows of devoted aficionados, who were encouraged to remain seated. They were part of a select group invited to a "meet and greet" with Prof. Dawkins, complete with an opportunity for an autograph. I was fortunate enough to be among them.

I came prepared with a copy of Dawkins's book The God Delusion — my favourite work of his — and, of course, The Genetic Book of the Dead.

Meeting Richard Dawkins in person felt surreal. I had so many questions swirling in my head, but I felt too much respect to bother him with any of them. All I wanted was to shake his hand and thank him for his work. He was gracious and kind, taking a moment to chat as he signed my copy of The God Delusion. Following that, I handed him The Genetic Book of the Dead with a request to dedicate it to my children, out of my sincere hope to inspire them to think critically and explore the world with curiosity.

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I often question the importance of meeting our heroes. I could have read or listened to more Dawkins through his books or online, so why did I pay a premium and travel to a theatre in Antwerp just to see him in flesh? Why is it important for us to meet any of the people we admire in person? Why did I visit Arthur C. Clarke in Colombo all those years ago? Why did it move me so much to meet Woody Allen in his favourite jazz café in Manhattan? Why did it mean the world to me to see Tim Berners-Lee at a conference in Barcelona? Or to encounter John Cleese, and John Oliver? I love all the work of Tim Minchin, but why do I cherish my signed copy of Storm the most?

I don't know. But I will always treasure the moment Richard Dawkins smiled warmly and wrote down the names of my two sons in his book.

The following morning at breakfast, I presented the signed book to my children and shared my excitement about the event. My older son listened thoughtfully before asking, "Daddy, why is it that such clever people never go on to become presidents?" I still owe him an answer.

Tomáš Fülöpp

Antwerpen, Belgium

November 9, 2024

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