How do we draw rich insights about the past from sparse traces of evidence? What can paleontology and the philosophy of science together reveal about how we understand, value, and experience knowledge?

Today’s guest is Adrian Currie, Associate Professor at the University of Exeter’s Centre for the Study of the Life Sciences. A philosopher of science with a focus on historical sciences like paleontology, archaeology, and geology, Adrian explores how we understand the deep past using fragmentary evidence. He is a contributor to the Extinct blog and a leading thinker on how science works in the absence of experimentation, particularly in fields where the past cannot be directly observed.

In this episode, we explore how paleontologists use scant traces—like a single molar—to reconstruct vivid stories of prehistoric life, and why philosophers like Adrian are fascinated by that process. We delve into the difference between knowing how and knowing that, why wonder is an essential part of learning, and how the search for knowledge is structured by love, value, and imagination. Adrian challenges the narrow, utilitarian view of knowledge, arguing instead for an approach that embraces beauty, joy, and the unknown.

This conversation pushes us to reflect on our education systems, our motivations for learning, and what it truly means to know. Whether you’re an educator, a student, or simply someone curious about the world, Adrian’s insights are sure to deepen your understanding of how—and why—we seek knowledge.