Loading...
By Pinker Steven
Steven Pinker
Contrary to popular belief, humankind has become progressively less violent over millennia and decades. Steven Pinker, author of The Language Instinct and The Blank Slate, presents evidence that violence, both murder and warfare, has declined significantly from prehistory to the present day. Even the conflicts of the last century, when viewed in historical context, represent a continuation of this trend. Pinker debunks notions of the 'noble savage' and a purely 'nasty, brutish, and short' existence, arguing that modernity and its cultural institutions foster a more peaceful humanity.