Discussion in London: the future of the human race

AN INTELLECTUAL historian will discuss the future of the human race at a west London arts club tomorrow.

Cultural events organiser Geist will be hosting Melanie Challenger, pictured below, at Ladbroke Hall in Notting Hill to talk on the subject of A New History of Being Human. The published poet and philosopher thinks people need to relearn that they are part of the animal kingdom to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

She said: “Human beings separate themselves and believe they are fundamentally different and that is down to a fear, a really ancient fear, about what it means to be an animal that will age, grow old and die. We have built whole belief systems on the idea there is a bit of us that will survive, whether you call that a soul or not.”

Ms Challenger, whose book How To Be Animal: What It Means To Be Human explored this issue, said recognising “we are animals through and through” would help people confront existential fears including “death, disease and ageing”. She said: “A better understanding of our animal nature makes for a better more fulfilled, more morally literate way of being in the world.”

• A New History of Being Human by Melanie Challenger is at Ladbroke Hall, 6pm tomorrow. For tickets go to geist group. co.uk