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Quote by Steven Pinker

“Probably Hobbes got it right when he said that a leviathan, a third party with a monopoly on the use of legitimate use of force in a territory, might be among the biggest violence reduction techniques ever invented.”

Quote by Steven Pinker

Author

Steven Pinker is a renowned cognitive psychologist, linguist, and author. His research focuses on language, cognition, and human behavior, particularly the relationship between language and thought. Pinker is known for his in-depth research on the evolution of language and his contributions to the field of cognitive science. more

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“Regardless of its causes, thoughtlessly blaming the present is a weakness which, even if it is never outlawed, ought to be resisted. Though commonly flaunted as a sign of sophistication, it can be an opportunity for one-upmanship and an excuse for misanthropy, especially against the young.”

Ifs Young Opportunity Causes Ought Weakness Blame Excuse Sophistication Misanthropy

Author:Steven Pinker

“Semantics is about the relation of words to thoughts, but it also about the relation of words to other human concerns. Semantics is about the relation of words to reality - the way that speakers commit themselves to a shared understanding of the truth, and the way their thoughts are anchored to things and situations in the world.”

World Way Humans Reality Understanding Situation Concern Relation Commit Speakers Semantics

Book:The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature

Source: The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature

“So no, it's not all in the genes, but what isn't in the genes isn't in the family environment either. It can't be explained in terms of the overall personalities or the child-rearing practices of parents.”

Children Parent Term Practice Environment Personality Genes Child Rearing Rearing A Child

Author:Steven Pinker

“Some people believe that the nuclear bomb should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, since it scared the major powers away from war by equating it with doomsday.”

People Should Believe War Majors Scared Nuclear Bombs Prize Nobel Nuclear Bomb Doomsday Nobel Peace Prize

Author:Steven Pinker

“Terrorist bombings, like rampage shootings, are events that maximize the amount of publicity per amount of damage. That's why people do them, because they know they will set off a media frenzy.”

People Knows Media Events Amount Terrorist Shooting Damage Publicity Bombing Frenzy Rampage

Author:Steven Pinker

“The connections I draw between human nature and political systems in my new book, for example, were prefigured in the debates during the Enlightenment and during the framing of the American Constitution.”

Humans Book Political Human Nature Example Draws Enlightenment Connections Constitution Debate Political Systems New Books Framing American Constitution

Author:Steven Pinker

“The European wars of religion were more deadly than the First World War, proportionally speaking, and in the range of the Second World War in Europe. The Inquisition, the persecution of heretics and infidels and witches, they racked up pretty high death tolls.”

World Firsts War Europe Range War Of The Worlds Witch Persecution Second World War Heretic Tolls Inquisition Infidel First World War

Author:Steven Pinker

“The reason I'm not a neurobiologist but a cognitive psychologist is that I think looking at brain tissue is often the wrong level of analysis. You have to look at a higher level of organization.”

Thinking Looks Reason Levels Brain Higher Organization Analysis Psychologist Cognitive Tissues Higher Level

Author:Steven Pinker

“The reason the United States is not so likely to invade Iran is precisely because of the lessons learned from Iraq. And conversely, the Iranian push towards nuclear capability is calculated to deter invasions like the kind deposing Saddam Husain.”

Kind States Reason United United States Lessons Iraq Nuclear Iran Capability Saddam Invasion Iranian Lesson Learned

Author:Steven Pinker

“The stirrings of morality emerge early in childhood. Toddlers spontaneously offer toys and help to others and try to comfort people they see in distress.”

People Trying Helping Childhood Morality Comfort Offers Ethics Toys Distress Stirring Toddler

Author:Steven Pinker