I think this confusion leads intellectuals and artists themselves to believe that the elite arts and humanities are a kind of higher, exalted form of human endeavor. Steven Pinker artartistconfusion Change image and share on social
Evolution is an indispensable component of any satisfying explanation of our psychology. Steven Pinker componentevolutionexplanation Change image and share on social
Why are empirical questions about how the mind works so weighted down with political and moral and emotional baggage? Steven Pinker baggageemotionalempirical Change image and share on social
20th-century totalitarian movements were no more defined by a rejection of Judeo-Christianity than they were defined by a rejection of astrology, alchemy, Confucianism, Scientology, or any of hundreds of other belief systems. Steven Pinker 20thalchemyastrology share on social
A decent government with an effective, but not gratuitously violent, police force and a fair court system are essential. This deters and incapacitates psychopaths, bullies and hotheads - and if it earns the confidence of the people, they don't have to become violent in self-defence. Steven Pinker bullyconfidencecourt share on social
Societies that empower women are less violent in every way. Steven Pinker empowersocietyviolent Change image and share on social
I think a lot of moral debates are not over what is the basis of justice, but who gets a ticket to play in the game. Steven Pinker basisdebategame Change image and share on social
There's a common criticism of evolutionary psychology that it's fatalistic and it dooms us to eternal strife, 'Why even try to work toward peace if we're just bloody killer apes and violence is in our genes?' Steven Pinker apebloodycommon share on social
People today sometimes get uncomfortable with empirical claims that seem to clash with their political assumptions, often because they haven't given much thought to the connections. Steven Pinker assumptionclaimclash 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
