The Evolutionary Purpose of Fun

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  • Опубліковано 3 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 440

  • @besmart
    @besmart  Рік тому +155

    What's the strangest thing YOU do for fun?
    Thanks for watching!

    • @PS-fn6uv
      @PS-fn6uv Рік тому +19

      making funny faces in the mirror

    • @h7opolo
      @h7opolo Рік тому +28

      The strangest thing I do for fun is compile UA-cam playlists of various themes into chronological order of original dates of release.

    • @GrannyRoberta
      @GrannyRoberta Рік тому +7

      Well, I keep bees as an expensive hobby. Is that strange enough?

    • @TheDwightMamba
      @TheDwightMamba Рік тому +4

      @@h7opolo , I had to do that with Kill Tony. Thay have about 600 episodes and I like to listen to the old ones at work. UA-cam refuses to hand them to me in order. Some algorithm, huh?

    • @rosesmith6925
      @rosesmith6925 Рік тому +6

      To me reading is fun (and relaxing). I can go to exciting scary places that don't exist in my world. And get away from "my/our" world with going Nutters 😎

  • @rosesmith6925
    @rosesmith6925 Рік тому +591

    I'm always amazed at what sets different people's dopamine into action. What is "play" for one is boring or nothing to another 🤔

    • @olafelsberry420
      @olafelsberry420 Рік тому +26

      Baseball always brings an overload of dopamine for me, I know it's also bore for a lot of people.

    • @rosesmith6925
      @rosesmith6925 Рік тому +41

      @@olafelsberry420, sport in general is something I can't seem to get excited about unless someone I know personally is playing, weird huh? Although I must say I absolutely love hearing it on TV but being in a different place. Reminds me of visiting my grandpa, baseball and cigar smoke ❤️(oh and the ice cream he always took us for when the game was over 😂).

    • @rachel_Cochran
      @rachel_Cochran Рік тому +12

      Or horrifying for one while fun for another

    • @vladdevener5586
      @vladdevener5586 Рік тому +2

      @Don't Read My Profile Picture OK I won't

    • @gjk-arts5855
      @gjk-arts5855 Рік тому +3

      @@rachel_Cochran ah. Roller coasters. (I'm on the TERRIFIED part of that spectrum)

  • @727Phoenix
    @727Phoenix Рік тому +254

    Raising little kittens to adult cats was a beautiful experience for me. Watching them play gave me so much joy, even though I was always aware they're pretending to kill each other.

    • @jesusramirezromo2037
      @jesusramirezromo2037 Рік тому +58

      I mean, Human kids also pretend to shoot, stab or bash each other to death when playing

    • @727Phoenix
      @727Phoenix Рік тому +44

      I know right? Years ago at a laundromat I started getting annoyed at two little tykes running around playing tag, pretending to shoot each other, etc(their mom tried to stop them but she was so busy...) Then I realized, _My kittens do the same thing!_ I no longer get annoyed at little kids because of that perspective.

    • @wetworms.
      @wetworms. Рік тому +7

      @@jesusramirezromo2037 me and my bro often used to make weapons from sticks and pretend to kill each other. It was a wild time lmao

  • @OrdinarySpeaker
    @OrdinarySpeaker Рік тому +208

    "Having fun means learning to be human" as a statement on its own also hits really hard.
    Thanks for the great video!

    • @oracleofdelphi4533
      @oracleofdelphi4533 Рік тому +6

      Watching Be Smart videos is a great way to learn to be human.
      Posting clever double entendre comments is fun too.

    • @vladdevener5586
      @vladdevener5586 Рік тому

      @Don't Read My Profile Picture OK I won't

  • @TheSphongleface
    @TheSphongleface Рік тому +96

    Fun is associating the use of a skill with the practice of movements, despite it seeming completely wasted. It's like lifting weights. It doesn't make anything useful there and then, you're just putting it back exactly where you found it, but you get a small amount better at it every time. Having fun together is mostly testing each other's limits to strengthen the social bonds that keep us safe from other creatures, and other people too.

  • @disky01
    @disky01 Рік тому +81

    I'm so grateful to live in an age when we have such broad and varied access to entertaining educational programming. Thanks to you Joe, and to Hank, Ze, Dianna, Sabine, Danielle and everyone else with a passion for science communication. You make the world a better place.

  • @aedof
    @aedof Рік тому +18

    That study on bee play behavior was fascinating! I used it as the basis for my final project in an animal behavior course last semester.

  • @Pfhorrest
    @Pfhorrest Рік тому +65

    This reminds me of some recent philosophical work of mine: pleasure is the feeling of succeeding. So, getting good at things, not because you have to, but just for its own sake, whether or not that's something you're going to need to be good at later, is pleasant, enjoyable, fun. And that's what play is: just trying to succeed at some arbitrary non-obligatory action. Because being good feels good.

    • @IGNOBLEVOIDPEEKER
      @IGNOBLEVOIDPEEKER Рік тому +1

      Thats not Philosophy. At least not capitol ‘P’ Philosophy. This is your personal philosophy (lower case p). And that’s fine, however it’s not something novel or rigorous.

    • @Pfhorrest
      @Pfhorrest Рік тому +1

      @@IGNOBLEVOIDPEEKER I have a degree in the subject and administer the largest chat community about it on the internet. Don't tell me what is or isn't philosophy.

    • @IGNOBLEVOIDPEEKER
      @IGNOBLEVOIDPEEKER Рік тому +4

      Good, then you should know that your “work” in philosophy is a mere personal philosophy.

    • @fleebertreatise1063
      @fleebertreatise1063 Рік тому

      @@IGNOBLEVOIDPEEKER They said it reminds them of their work, not that their description was the totality or finished product of that work.

    • @IGNOBLEVOIDPEEKER
      @IGNOBLEVOIDPEEKER Рік тому +2

      ​@@fleebertreatise1063 You are mistaken. There is no assumption here. Recall, and I directly quote, "This reminds me of some recent philosophical work of mine" Notice how the author is not referring to 'work' in math, 'work' in physics, or 'work' in any other discipline such that it is not philosophy. The author directly says, "philosophical work of mine"; therefore, if I take the utterance as such (and I am expected to), then his 'work' is to be taken as philosophy, however, doing so, is erronous. Whether this work is finished or in progress is irrelevant; notice that if this 'description is accurate, then I take the following to be the case. First, notice that what matters here is that if the author calls this 'work' philosophy, it is a detriment to the discipline. The lack of rigor, precision, and the use of first-person experiences (from the original comment, "pleasure is the feeling of succeeding") sound more like the (fraudulent) continental philosophy. If that is what one wants to call 'philosophical,' go ahead. However, then you run into issues of calling anything philosophy, such that any lowercase 'p' philosophy (take your standard pet theory, conspiracy theory, or some individual personal philosophy) is as serious as capital 'P' philosophy, which, I think, is erroneous, and fraudulent.

  • @critiqueofthegothgf
    @critiqueofthegothgf 11 місяців тому +1

    play has fundamental value; not instrumental value. it's not done as a means to something else, but a basic condition for life itself. life doesn't play because it believes playing is going to eventually lead to something else, we do it because of the value of the activity itself. it's beautiful.

  • @KraftyKittenz
    @KraftyKittenz Рік тому +8

    I do like the new set. The subtle logo in the wood is lovely.

  • @wisesquirrel4986
    @wisesquirrel4986 Рік тому +3

    I love it when one of the claims of these videos is one of the conclusions I personally arrived on prior to watching said video. Feels so validating.

  • @absolutegaming8658
    @absolutegaming8658 Рік тому +19

    I like his videos because the question he asks are so fundamental yet so complex to answer its so fascinating and amazing

  • @JarrodCoombes
    @JarrodCoombes Рік тому +3

    Thank you for making sure to mention Lovelace as equal designer for the difference machine.

  • @paulweber1740
    @paulweber1740 Рік тому +4

    I love the set! Absolutely love the logo cut into those screens or wall or cabinet, whatever it is. Been a Galaxy Brain supporter for over three years now. Stoked to see our support manifest in all the ways it does. Love you Joe!!

  • @ericswain4177
    @ericswain4177 Рік тому +2

    Fun and Amusement are a kind of safety valve, the more complicated and stressful one's life is the more desire or need for Fun and or Play, Amusement.

  • @thiagocamargoalima
    @thiagocamargoalima Рік тому +3

    "Curse you, Newton!" LoL 🤣🤣🤣

  • @Beryllahawk
    @Beryllahawk Рік тому +13

    I think for some of us, the learning itself gives some dopamine too, and thus learning is "fun" - but that doesn't apply to every brain, at least that seems to be the case. I'm content to be one of the "weird" folks that actually enjoys learning even now in my fourth decade of living. Nerds Are Good!

  • @gryphonschnitzel7140
    @gryphonschnitzel7140 Рік тому +5

    I got so much into over analyzing my feelings and consciousness (additionally with the help of psychedelics) so that i could feel and to a large degree control what hormones and neurotransmitters activate in my body and boy i felt kinda broken. What im tryna say is your emotions all have reasons and purposes and blocking them or avoiding them always causes suffering. Face all of your being and integrate the bad emotions too, as to make you the complete version of yourself. The way to success is pointed at by fear and constructive anger.

  • @syedushherahmad311
    @syedushherahmad311 Рік тому +1

    Scientist: oh look the bee is playing!
    Bee: where is the nectar on this flower?

  • @marcovallejo3
    @marcovallejo3 Рік тому +9

    You got my like at the bee saying "Calle me Mbeepé".

  • @bobtuckey2409
    @bobtuckey2409 Рік тому +2

    I had fun watching you talk about fun. I think it’s amazing that bumblebees have fun. Very cool.🐝

  • @SolaceEasy
    @SolaceEasy Рік тому +3

    Point missed: Directly state that making learning fun is an extremely effective way of learning.

  • @MotoRide.
    @MotoRide. Рік тому +1

    4:01 "call me M'Beepe" hahahaaa xD

  • @disneybunny45
    @disneybunny45 Рік тому +8

    F is for friends who do stuff together

  • @barba5209
    @barba5209 Місяць тому +1

    we really have just become tecnological apes in pants

  • @dany_fg
    @dany_fg Рік тому +4

    This video was so much fun to watch

  • @soonny002
    @soonny002 Рік тому +5

    For the longest time, my parents tried to convince me, that studying hard, going to a good school, finding a good job, building a family, buying a big house, and looking after your parents, was indeed FUN.
    And so I asked them, "then why aren't you doing it?" And they never got back to me.

  • @naturalistmind
    @naturalistmind Рік тому

    I've been taking Japanese in college and I'll tell you deciphering then understanding new writing systems is definitely my brains favorite thing, looking forward to reading The call of the wild in Japanese

  • @CHIRASRIPODDAR
    @CHIRASRIPODDAR 7 місяців тому

    This channel gives me a dopamine hit 😊 almost everytime i watch their video.keep it up 👍

  • @nomann5244
    @nomann5244 Рік тому

    I has the same question for a long time. "What is fun... What is the necessity of fun in evolution..."
    Thanks for the video.

  • @zaubergarden6900
    @zaubergarden6900 Рік тому +8

    This should be watched back-to-back with a video by Big Think that just got suggested to me: how money can "buy" happiness.
    Same strategy to invest in experiences that pay off later, again and again by remembering, reliving them and telling the stories.
    In this case it's playing to build up skills that pay off later.

  • @k_loves_dogs7260
    @k_loves_dogs7260 Рік тому +1

    It’s fun to watch your videos and learn!!

  • @ShadowDrakken
    @ShadowDrakken Рік тому +2

    Fun aside: The old software store chain Babbage's was named for, but not associated with Charles Babbage. Today you're probably more familiar with it under its new name, "GameStop" or possibly "EB Games" :)

  • @LabyrinthMike
    @LabyrinthMike Рік тому

    Yep, made it to end screen. There are a few creators who's end credits are so long, including one who reads the names of her Patreon subscribers, that I've stopped trying to make it to the end. But for most videos I watch to the end. My wife has always insisted on watching the end credits of movies to honor all the people who contributed to the film, and I guess I do that for videos too. And besides, there might be an end credit scene. (Congratulations on the new set.)

  • @ontbijtkoek5331
    @ontbijtkoek5331 Рік тому +1

    I needed this. Exactly at the right time

  • @bhargavbhatt5839
    @bhargavbhatt5839 Рік тому +1

    I miss the old set... It was iconic

  • @evelynkoch8500
    @evelynkoch8500 Рік тому

    8:13, Joe, did you just take all of the fun out of my life by making me conscious of why we do it?!

  • @jessovenden
    @jessovenden 8 місяців тому

    It’s possible to learn to find more of life fun. Cheerfulness is very important!

  • @poh7240
    @poh7240 Рік тому +3

    the way this channel questions things is actually amazing!

  • @Part_Time_Fox
    @Part_Time_Fox Рік тому +2

    F is for friends who do stuff together!
    U is for you and me!
    N is for anywhere and anytime at all
    Down here in the deep blue sea!

  • @abhinav121rocks
    @abhinav121rocks Рік тому

    Just call me mbeepe killed me 04:00 Now all I can think of is bessi 😂😂😂😂

  • @bilalrasool1
    @bilalrasool1 Рік тому +8

    this would explain why some people genuinely enjoy learning something new.

  • @matthewsfamily900
    @matthewsfamily900 Рік тому

    I'm subscribed to 6 or so science channels. Yours is the funnest.......
    On a more serious note (serious as in using a real word), it really is fun. I get most excited when a new video of yours pops up.

  • @davidcollier2500
    @davidcollier2500 Рік тому +1

    It's not just that learning is fun. Fun is learning.

  • @janekschmidt9015
    @janekschmidt9015 Рік тому

    this Channel is so great! thanks smart people

  • @ArmyGrunt1986
    @ArmyGrunt1986 Рік тому +1

    Guess thats why the funnest games when a young kid and older mimics hunting and escaping danger, like tag, man-hunt and hide and seek. And why dogs love playing fetch.

  • @christianperkins9508
    @christianperkins9508 Рік тому +1

    I love learning about my brain! And how my ADHD, Autism, Alexithymia, and so on mess with my dopamine pathways...

  • @coco-chan-
    @coco-chan- Рік тому +4

    finally a new video 🎉😊 love this channel, couldn’t live without it

  • @SkiesTurnedGrey
    @SkiesTurnedGrey Рік тому +1

    It's for friends, who do stuff together. For you and me. Anywhere, at any time at all.

  • @Blenny1
    @Blenny1 Рік тому

    This video deserves 1B Milestone

  • @willmpet
    @willmpet 5 місяців тому

    “Work is more fun than fun”

  • @Chris0nF1re
    @Chris0nF1re Рік тому +2

    Currently in bed sick and binging UA-cam. 🤣

  • @james_4526
    @james_4526 Рік тому +1

    F is for friends that do things together

  • @1RAH
    @1RAH Рік тому

    My name is Rowyn and that was really trippy hearing that thank you. Happy to hear other giving it a good name. Good job Rowan, Rowen or Rowyn

  • @indigo-lily
    @indigo-lily Рік тому +1

    In the words of the great Hirasawa Yui: "Fun things are fun"

  • @MrShaclakclak
    @MrShaclakclak Рік тому

    "F" is for Friends who do things together!

  • @cryotimber
    @cryotimber Рік тому

    Lmfao. "You want a HUGE dopamine hit? Pay us money"

  • @Mathyken
    @Mathyken Рік тому +5

    However, I do wonder if the bees actually get dopamine from 'playing' a ball. Could it be that the colors of the balls attract the bees, in which they automatically think that they also contain nectar. I hope they don't wear themselves out over it. I once heard that a cat following a laser on the wall can make him/her very frustrated and therefor; this can regretfully be misinterpreted as fun.
    The strangest thing I do for fun is think about these things. Love it! Thanks for the food.
    Liked & subscribed.

  • @YoungGandalf2325
    @YoungGandalf2325 Рік тому +5

    The bees rolling the balls aren't playing, they're training for a new profession: Dung Bee-tle

  • @Tattta999
    @Tattta999 Рік тому +2

    why is beeball so cute

  • @grantbartley483
    @grantbartley483 Рік тому

    Aristotle: human is 'the rational animal'
    Joe: human is 'the ape with pants'

  • @drebarthelotte5712
    @drebarthelotte5712 Рік тому

    Its got to be said.
    Thank you. 😊

  • @Palbizu
    @Palbizu Рік тому

    The Portal video game series I call my training wheels for programming.

  • @sarahm2005
    @sarahm2005 Рік тому +1

    Oh hey! You changed the thumbnail! Great choice! Who clickes on two guerillas?

  • @Squintis
    @Squintis Рік тому

    The bee probably just wants to learn some sick rolling skills..

  • @schlieffenman957
    @schlieffenman957 Рік тому +1

    Ah yes, my science nerd comes out with another banger!

  • @Katiethewizard
    @Katiethewizard Рік тому

    all i know is that its really cute when i wrastle my pet rats with my hands and they pop up and run around happily

  • @simarkarmani4034
    @simarkarmani4034 Рік тому +2

    How does this video have 44K views in a day? That's AMAZING!

  • @Iamdasutpal
    @Iamdasutpal Рік тому

    What a fun video 👌🏽. Can you make a follow up video answering “what is evolutionary purpose of sadness or loss” ?

  • @pilosheht8239
    @pilosheht8239 Рік тому

    Thank you, Joe!

  • @רמותאורהשן
    @רמותאורהשן 8 місяців тому

    i love this videos so much!

  • @abineshanbazhagan6703
    @abineshanbazhagan6703 2 місяці тому

    Evolution is always fun! Let's keep evolving for more of the same ❤ happy living folks!

  • @bbbenj
    @bbbenj Рік тому

    Thank you.

  • @Fireninja2343
    @Fireninja2343 Рік тому

    Learning is supposed to be fun

  • @Barbaste
    @Barbaste Рік тому

    So many years denying Skinner and Wilson - they have always been the real psychologists!

  • @thoraero
    @thoraero Рік тому

    Excellent explanation

  • @qarljohnson4971
    @qarljohnson4971 Рік тому

    Be Smart needs to go deep into the evolutionary phenomenon of neoteny- the retention of juvenile characteristics into adulthood.
    Humans are especially defined by our neotenic behavior of playing into our collective dottages.
    Though it might be said that the playfulness of domesticated animals does imply that humans playfulness is also a sign of being domesticated.

  • @jjohnston94
    @jjohnston94 Рік тому

    "But mama, that's where the fun iiiiiiiiis..."

  • @jakubcejka2597
    @jakubcejka2597 Рік тому

    Great video as always. Was Joe always looking this good? Look at his biceps

  • @lindareed8265
    @lindareed8265 10 місяців тому

    OMG, Rowan, you're the best!!!!!!!!!!

  • @devooko
    @devooko Рік тому +1

    At 6:20, the like button will go through an rgb border animation

  • @supercommie
    @supercommie Рік тому

    I have an obsession with the Babbage computer.

  • @hennnerz
    @hennnerz Рік тому +3

    Please, after being a suffering epileptic, could you do a video on epilepsy?

  • @Luanmm
    @Luanmm Рік тому +2

    In 5:47, it seemed implied that nomadic hunter gatherer people are "less evolved". Probably was a bad choice of words, you wish to talk about our ancestor species, but we have still hunter gatherer human populations around the world...
    A derivative question, to test further this (probably poorly chosen) phrase, is to look at how different human populations play, how many time the spend playing, what are they playing with. Do nomadic human hunter gatherers play less? Play more? Play differently?
    For example, I've heard that nomadic hunter gatherers have more free time than early farmers had, so who is actually able to play more?

  • @WillVRam
    @WillVRam Рік тому

    7:49 good link

  • @GlenHunt
    @GlenHunt Рік тому +1

    I told my service dog that working for me is fun. Not sure how much longer I can maintain that ruse.

  • @smartass0124
    @smartass0124 Рік тому +1

    Fun is stimulus

  • @michaelmedlinger6399
    @michaelmedlinger6399 Рік тому +1

    FUN = watching videos made by Dr. Joe on Be Smart!

  • @natewright1197
    @natewright1197 Рік тому

    Is exercise considered playing?
    I know a lot of people that go to the gym to run or lift weights. This behavior doesn’t help them survive right now, but it is building skills or building strength in their body to use later. And it does make them feel good.

  • @hydrashade1851
    @hydrashade1851 5 місяців тому

    my dance teacher always had the philosophy that people learn best through play. and damn was she right

  • @Kanakadea
    @Kanakadea Рік тому

    Beautiful cards. I think i’ll get that when my kids are a little older.

  • @masternicholas0559
    @masternicholas0559 Рік тому

    Love the new set!

  • @lumiere2598
    @lumiere2598 Рік тому

    The muffled sound at around 4:21 makes me think I accidentally forgot to leave an online meeting or something

  • @dubstrippin
    @dubstrippin Рік тому

    Weird, I was thinking of this very question today!!!

  • @pewpewdragon4483
    @pewpewdragon4483 Рік тому +1

    What is fun? That's easy
    F is for friends who do stuff together
    U is for you and me
    N is for anywhere and anytime at all

  • @joegroom9837
    @joegroom9837 Рік тому

    That you brilliant for melting my retinas at 2 in the morning 🤣

  • @Anna-rb6rg
    @Anna-rb6rg Рік тому +1

    2:38 maybe little bit inaccurate - dopamine does not make us "feel good", it makes us want something, so far i know.
    And as a former addicted i can confirm, that you can have enourmous amount of dopamine and no pleasure at the same time

    • @Anna-rb6rg
      @Anna-rb6rg Рік тому +1

      and i guess, that during the game all animals have dopamine hits, because the game requires fantasy -
      the cat pretends that despite the probability of losing, he caught the mouse (that is, he thought worse about the "real" outcome and surprised by it - what in itself causes dopaminerelease) and can eat this mouse now (and theoretically get pleasure due to the release of other neurotransmitters), although this is just a string
      I ask myself now - is the game fun or do we just want to play?

  • @MBMCincy63
    @MBMCincy63 Рік тому

    It it just me? But subject matter aside ( Fun! Good topic), I noticed a new background 🙂. I like it, but where are some of those nifty items from the other set? The hexagon shapes and all the myriad books?

  • @kshina3624
    @kshina3624 Рік тому

    also playing with other people helps us develop social skills too, which could be why so many games require more than one person. sports for example always requires at least two ppl. i dont know any sport that is played alone. even if it is solo you have an opponent

  • @KrossX
    @KrossX Рік тому

    I made it the end screen! Yay!