30/4/2017 TheDeclineofViolence:StevenPinker'sTheory

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LivefromNewYork,linguistandpsychologist
StevenPinkermakesthecaseforthedeclineof
warfareandmurder.EconomistJudith
Marquand,BHAChiefExecutiveAndrewCopson
andBBCbroadcasterRogerBoltoncross
examine.
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30/4/2017 TheDeclineofViolence:StevenPinker'sTheory

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02:50 11:37 15:47 17:51 26:21 28:24

StevenPinker StevenPinker StevenPinker Judith AndrewCopson RogerBolton

Marquand
TheTalk TheTalk TheTalk TheDebate TheDebate
Howhas Whyhas The TheDebate Whyisthe Whyisthere
violence violence implicationsof Canreason declineof resistanceto
declined? declined? declining aloneexplain violencenot Pinker's
violence thedeclineof universal? thesis?
violence?

Speakers
RogerBolton AndrewCopson
BBCpresenterandproducer ChiefExecutiveoftheBritish
ofPanorama,Tonightand HumanistAssociation,
Nationwidebeforesettingup Copsonappearsregularlyon
theFlameGroup. BBCNewsdefendingsecular
values.HewritesforThe
Findoutmore>
GuardianandisaFellowo...
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JudithMarquand RanaMitter
Senioreconomistinthe RegularpresenterofNight
GovernmentEconomic Wavesandwriterforthe
Servicefor25years,sheis FinancialTimes,History
nowaMemberofWolfson Today,andtheLondon
College,Oxford,andauthor ReviewofBooks,RanaMitter
ofAutonomyandChange. isProfessoroftheHistory
and...
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30/4/2017 TheDeclineofViolence:StevenPinker'sTheory

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andauthorofHowtheMind
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4comments
Jointhedebatewhetheryouagreeordisagree,voiceyourthoughtsinthecommentsbelow.

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dansumners
Posted5yearsago

Ibelieveempathyismoreimportantthanreason.Further,itisnot,asStevendescribesit,
afeebleforceatall.
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30/4/2017 TheDeclineofViolence:StevenPinker'sTheory

Hesayshedoesnothavethementalenergytoempathisewithsevenmillionpeople,but
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thatistomisconstrueempathy.Empathyusuallyoccurswhenanindividualinteractswith
In
another(orothers)itdoesn'tevenrequiredialogueorphysicalinteractiononecan
iaiAcademy iaiPodcast
empathisewithacharacterinafilmorbook(orcharacters).Itisnotsomethingone
choosestoexpendenergyon,itsimplyhappens.

Sympathy,ontheotherhand,isanactivechoice,andtheresultofreasoning.

Empathyismoreimportantthanreason,orsympathy,becauseitisagreaterdriverof
humanaction,asareallemotiveforces.Withouthavingexperiencedempathyforanother
person,onewouldbelesslikelytosympathisewithpeopleingeneral.

Becauseitisinlargepartbywayofempathythatwecometobelieveothershavean
emotionallifemuchthesameasourown,thattheyexperiencepainandjoyaswedo.
Andifthatistrueforallthosewehaveactuallyinteractedwith,itisprobablytruefor
everyone.Therefore,onecanreason,whatisorshouldbetrueforone,shouldbetruefor
all.

Adulted
Posted5yearsago

IappreciatePinker'spovandwouldliketoknowaboutthetrendofresource
consumption/destructionforandfromviolence.Whathavethemeasureabletrendsbeen?

Guv'norMarly
Posted5yearsago

ImustsayIthinkStephenPinkerplacestoomuchfaithinthelongtermsustainabilityof
rationalistEnlightenmentvalues.JohnGraygaveBetterAngelsquiteasavagereviewin
prospectandwhilstItendtothinkhetakesthingsabitfaroverall,it'sdefinitelyfairtosay
thewestisstillfightingcolonialwarsevenifit'snotfightingitselfdirectly

TracerTong
Posted5yearsago

Theworldisgenerallyalessviolentplace,thismuchistrue,butIdontthinkwehave
muchtocongratulateourselvesforonceweenterasocietyofscarcityoncemoreIm
surethestateofaffairswillregressratherquickly.Howlongwillittakeforhundredsof
yearsoffightingineuropetorearitsuglyheadoncemore?

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