301: How Alcohol Fuels Innovation and Group Cohesion with Edward Slingerland

What is the connection between alcohol and innovation? How does alcohol help enhance trust and cooperation? Why is it important not to think about alcohol consumption through a medical lens alone? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Edward Slingerland, a professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia and the author of Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Giveaway One of you will win a bottle of Gary Farrell wine. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at [email protected] and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose one person randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!   Highlights What’s Edward's take on the quote attributed to Ernest Hemingway about writing drunk and editing sober? How did Edward use this strategy when writing the book proposal for "Drunk"? What role did alcohol play in Edward’s first lecture as a graduate student? How did the first pub on the University of British Columbia campus lead to a major research collaboration on the evolution of religion? What is the "Ballmer Peak," and how does it relate to alcohol and creativity? How does alcohol help enhance trust and cooperation in large-scale societies? Why did problem drinking increase significantly during the pandemic? What was the most surprising insight Edward discovered while writing "Drunk"? Why is it inadequate to look at alcohol consumption through a medical lens alone? What are the three objects Edward would include in a museum exhibit about himself? Who would Edward most want to share a bottle of wine with?   Key Takeaways What is the connection between alcohol and innovation? It’s a double effect in enhancing individual creativity and reducing inhibitions. Alcohol also enhances group creativity because individual members are more creative. They’re also less nervous about saying something that your prefrontal cortex would judge as not worthy when perhaps it’s a great idea. We have to recognize both the dangers and the benefits of alcohol to make intelligent decisions about how to use it.   About Edward Slingerland Edward Slingerland is a Distinguished University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia, where he also holds appointments in the Departments of Psychology and Asian Studies. He is also Director of the Database of Religious History. Dr. Slingerland is the author of several academic monographs and edited volumes, a major translation of the Analects of Confucius, and approximately fifty book chapters, reviews, and articles in top academic journals in a wide range of fields.       To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/301.