Why Do Some Ideas Take Over the World?

Why do some beliefs, behaviours, technologies and customs spread from person to person and persist across generations, while others disappear?

Join us for a meal and an engaging lecture exploring the cultural evolution of ideas: how beliefs spread, why some traditions survive, and what makes certain ideas particularly good at reproducing themselves. We’ll look at the forces that shape what people believe and do—from social learning and imitation to status, cooperation, storytelling and group identity.

Why do some religions flourish while others vanish? Why do particular moral norms become widespread? Why do technologies and cultural practices sometimes spread rapidly, even when they aren't obviously better? And what can the evolution of culture tell us about why we believe what we believe about the world, ethics and religion?

Hosted by esteemed UWA lecturer Dr Scott.

Come for the ideas, stay for the meal—and leave with a different way of thinking about the beliefs and behaviours that surround us every day.