Enlightenment Now! - Steven Pinker

[Michael Hardner]

I'm just about done this book now. 

The main thesis is that all aspects of life are getting better over time, over the long term, thanks to the twin inventions of humanism and reason+science.

I absolutely have problems with Pinker's blunt rejection of several philosophies and his logic at times.  Especially around the health of the Zeitgeist... but this was written in 2018 or so.  And, to be self-critical, Even the politics of the last 10 years are a blip when you go back to the age of reason to now.... Which was centuries ago 

I do think that the main thesis, people getting their information from news sources that gives them a negative view, is valid 

. Although I'm not interested in defending someone else's ideas, as much as my own, I thought I'd put this forward. And I'm definitely not interested in debating a lot of people on this. 

Mostly I advise you pick up the book, or get an audiobook from the library. 

Here are the main points in a very short summary, discussion with Bill Gates. 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2024 by Michael Hardner

[Michael Hardner]

To add:

I'm not sure his philosophy is close to mine, or that I'm anywhere near as optimistic as he is. But in terms of his analysis of the broad strokes in history, and how institutions have served us, I would say my assessment is pretty close to his overall. 

Is coming from someone, myself, who was raised deeply embedded in religious culture versus Pinker who I think is an atheistic Jew.

Edited December 13, 2024 by Michael Hardner