Like the early days of the Internet, the dawn of personal genomics promises benefits and pitfalls that no one can foresee. Steven Pinker benefitdawnday Change image and share on social
One of the things that people complain about is loneliness, disconnectedness. If you live in a society where your life is rarely threatened and most of your relationships are more on an economic exchange basis, then this could leave people feeling less connected. Steven Pinker basiscomplainconnect share on social
The 9/11 strikes left an indelible impact on our minds, but in relative terms, the scale of casualties actually wasn't all that high. Steven Pinker casualtyhighimpact Change image and share on social
Consciousness surely does not depend on language. Babies, many animals, and patients robbed of speech by brain damage are not insensate robots; they have reactions like ours that indicate that someone's home. Steven Pinker animalbabybrain share on social
Northeastern and most coastal states will vote for the candidate who is more closely aligned with international cooperation and engagement, secularism and science, gun control, individual freedom in culture and sexuality, and a greater role for the government in protecting the environment and ensuring economic equality. Steven Pinker aligncandidateclosely share on social
Language pedants hew to an oral tradition of shibboleths that have no basis in logic or style, that have been defied by great writers for centuries, and that have been disavowed by every thoughtful usage manual. Steven Pinker basiscenturydefy share on social
We know about every massacre that has taken place close to the present, but the ones in the distant past are like trees falling in the forest with no one to hear them. Steven Pinker closedistantfall Change image and share on social
In any dispute, each side thinks it's in the right and the other side is demons. Steven Pinker demondisputeside Change image and share on social
There's guilt about our treatment of native peoples in modern intellectual life, and an unwillingness to acknowledge there could be anything good about Western culture. Steven Pinker acknowledgeculturegood Change image and share on social
I'm very interested in language because it reflects our obsessions and ways of conceptualising the world. Steven Pinker conceptualiseinterestlanguage Change image and share on social