Intelligence Squared How Has Living With Animals Shaped Our Brains? With Michael Bond
Mar 22, 2026
Michael Bond, award-winning science writer and author of Animate, explores how animals shaped human minds and cultures. He discusses Paleolithic cave art, ritual and burial roles for animals, the Neolithic shift to domination and domestication, differing Indigenous and Western worldviews, and how dogs, wolves and cats influenced our social life. The conversation ends with a call to rethink how we treat other species.
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Animals Dominated Paleolithic Art
- Paleolithic cave art shows animals dominated early human culture rather than humans themselves.
- Michael Bond notes tens of thousands of animal paintings across caves dating 40,000+ years with very few human figures, often hybrid or ritualistic.
Animals Appeared In Ancient Burials
- Burial evidence suggests animals held spiritual or ritual roles in ancient human societies.
- Bond describes burials with animal parts like antlers and wings placed with humans, implying animals accompanied people in death.
Neolithic Farming Shifted Animal Roles
- The Neolithic shift to agriculture changed art and attitudes toward animals from reverence to domination.
- Bond cites Çatalhöyük murals showing men baiting a red deer stag as an early example of humans using animals.
