Steven Pinker on The Better Angels of Our Nature

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 13 January 2017

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 2011, we welcomed world renowned American cognitive scientist Steven Pinker to the Intelligence Squared stage. He argued that, contrary to popular belief, we are living in the least violent period of history, and that even the horrific carnage of the last century, compared to primitive societies, is part of this trend. Pinker claimed that, thanks to the spread of government, literacy and trade, we are actually becoming better people. He was in conversation with Matt Ridley, One of the UK’s most popular science writers, whose books - including the award-winning 'The Rational Optimist' - have sold over a million copies and been translated into 30 languages. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	So you've arrived you head to the brasserie then the terrace cocktail don't mind if I do
0:08.5	You raise your glass to another guest because you both know the holidays just beginning.
0:14.0	And you're only in Terminal 3.
0:18.0	Welcome to Virgin Atlantic's unique upper class clubhouse experience
0:22.0	where you'll feel like you've arrived before you've taken off.
0:27.0	Virgin Atlantic, see the world differently.
0:31.0	The new Samsung Galaxy Z-Flip 5 and Chromebook are better together.
0:37.0	Take hands-free selfies which automatically sync to your Chromebook, ready to edit, and access
0:41.6	recent Chrome tabs across both devices.
0:44.0	The new Galaxy Z Flip5 and Chromebook, better together.
0:48.0	Available on Sky Mobile.
0:50.0	Bluetooth and internet connection required.
0:52.0	You must be signed into the same Google account on both
0:53.9	your phone and Chromebook.
0:57.0	Believe it or not, and I know most people do not, violence has been in decline for long stretches of time and we may be
1:05.6	living in the most peaceful era in our species existence. The decline of violence
1:11.0	has not been steady. It has not brought violence down to zero,
1:15.9	and it is not guaranteed to continue.
1:18.6	But I hope to persuade you that it's a persistent historical development visible on scales from millennia to years, from wars
1:26.9	and genocides to the treatment of children and animals.
1:31.3	I'm going to walk you through six historical declines of violence.
1:35.0	Try to identify their immediate causes, that is particular historical events of the era,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Intelligence Squared, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Intelligence Squared and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.