Oskar Pfungst

Origin Of Species by Means of Natural Selection (version 2)

No. of episodes

12

Latest episode

2026-01-27

Where can you listen?

In this captivating exploration, Oskar Pfungst delves into the fascinating story of Clever Hans, an Orlov Trotter horse that was believed to possess extraordinary arithmetic abilities. Through rigorous investigative journalism, Pfungst meticulously details a series of experiments that ultimately reveal the true mechanisms behind Hanss seemingly intelligent performances. This classic case of the observer-expectancy effect not only illuminates the complexities of animal cognition but also serves as a cautionary tale for contemporary studies of animal intelligence. Join narrator Jordan as he unravels this intriguing narrative that continues to influence our understanding of both psychology and animal behavior.