The Better Angels of Our Nature

Résumé du livre

Steven Pinker is a prominent Canadian-American cognitive psychologist, linguist, and popular science author known for his work in the fields of psychology, linguistics, and the exploration of human cognition. He is a prolific writer and speaker who has made significant contributions to our understanding of language, human nature, and the process of thought.

The universal drive for retaliation, often manifesting as long-term grudges or immediate payback, is a significant force behind aggression, with nearly 20% of global homicides motivated by revenge. This impulse, deeply ingrained across cultures and even reflected in fantasies of violence, may be linked to the brain's reward system, offering satisfaction similar to that of addictive substances. Evolutionarily, revenge could serve as a deterrent, discouraging potential aggressors by imposing long-term consequences. However, its persistence beyond immediate conflicts and lack of tangible benefits raises questions about its purpose. It may also stem from our moral framework, which compels us to reciprocate not only good deeds but also wrongs. Social species, including humans, often mitigate violence through dominance hierarchies, which reduce conflict by establishing order. While historically male dominance and competition for resources fueled violence, the emergence of hunter-gatherer societies shifted priorities toward loyalty and caregiving, laying the foundation for cooperative family structures and our evolutionary success.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to compute it.”

“It's natural to think that living things must be the handiwork of a designer. But it was also natural to think that the sun went around the earth. Overcoming naive impressions to figure out how things really work is one of humanity's highest callings."

"As we care about more of humanity, we’re apt to mistake the harms around us for signs of how low the world has sunk rather than how high our standards have risen.”

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