What separates man from other creatures? Thinkers both religious and secular have been wrestling with this question throughout history. The three-part series “The Human Spark” (8 p.m., PBS) offers new theories about the origins of human behavior, the ability to think, plan, anticipate and record thoughts with language and art.
While the legendary cave paintings of Lascaux, France, have long been seen as the earliest evidence of a civilizing genius, new finds in Africa push back the date of inspired creativity by 100,000 years.
Host Alan Alda does a good job presenting the evidence, combining meditative asides with a folksy presentation. He has experience in this field, having hosted “Scientific American Frontiers” for years.