Here, Pagel discusses the most dangerous trait our species has ever evolved, our ability to learn through culture from others, and the problems of misusing this to steal the ideas of others through visual theft, and the effects this had on the evolution of our languages as a means of cooperation to sidestep it.
Language… It’s our means of transferring our thoughts to the minds of others through simple speech and writing, no special abilities needed, a natural outgrowth of the consequences of social learning, and our use of it that often frightens the powers that be into suppressing it.
The Call of Troithulu 