In this book Enlightenment Now, cognitive scientist Steven Pinker assesses the human condition in the third millennium and urges us to step back from the gory headlines and prophecies of doom, which play to our psychological biases.
Instead, follow the data: In seventy-five graphs, Pinker shows that life, health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, and happiness are on the rise, not just in the West, but worldwide. This progress is not the result of some cosmic force. It is a gift of the Enlightenment: the conviction that reason and science can enhance human flourishing.
Far from being a naïve hope, the Enlightenment, we now know, has worked. But more than ever, it needs a vigorous defense. The Enlightenment project swims against currents of human nature — tribalism, authoritarianism, demonization, magical thinking — which demagogues are all too willing to exploit. Many commentators, committed to political, religious, or romantic ideologies, fight a rearguard action against it. The result is a corrosive fatalism and a willingness to wreck the precious institutions of liberal democracy and global cooperation
Enlightenment Now | Steven Pinker | Talks at Google
Books: Steven Pinker
Quotations: Steven Pinker
Book Purchased: 11 September, 2019
Tags: Enlightenment (24) | humanism (4) | reasoning (51) | science (18) | Steven Pinker (5)
Blook Search
Google Web Search
Photo Credits: Midjourney (Public Domain)
Instead, follow the data: In seventy-five graphs, Pinker shows that life, health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, and happiness are on the rise, not just in the West, but worldwide. This progress is not the result of some cosmic force. It is a gift of the Enlightenment: the conviction that reason and science can enhance human flourishing.
Far from being a naïve hope, the Enlightenment, we now know, has worked. But more than ever, it needs a vigorous defense. The Enlightenment project swims against currents of human nature — tribalism, authoritarianism, demonization, magical thinking — which demagogues are all too willing to exploit. Many commentators, committed to political, religious, or romantic ideologies, fight a rearguard action against it. The result is a corrosive fatalism and a willingness to wreck the precious institutions of liberal democracy and global cooperation
Enlightenment Now | Steven Pinker | Talks at Google
Reviews
- Nature: The limitations of Steven Pinker’s optimism by Ian Goldin
- The Guardian: Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker review – life is getting better
- GatesNotes: My new favorite book of all time by Bill Gates
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission when you purchase a book via this site.
Books: Steven Pinker
Quotations: Steven Pinker
Book Purchased: 11 September, 2019
Tags: Enlightenment (24) | humanism (4) | reasoning (51) | science (18) | Steven Pinker (5)
Blook Search
Google Web Search
Photo Credits: Midjourney (Public Domain)
This page is part of a blook on Conversational Leadership. Parts of this book have restricted access. You can learn more about the book and how to obtain full access on the home page.
Gurteen Knowledge Letter
The Gurteen Knowledge Letter is a free monthly newsletter with over 20,000 subscribers that I have been publishing by email for over 20 years.
Learn more about the newsletter and register here.
The Gurteen Knowledge Letter is a free monthly newsletter with over 20,000 subscribers that I have been publishing by email for over 20 years.
Learn more about the newsletter and register here.