The Better Angels of Our Nature
Steven Pinker
Uncover the data-driven reality of human progress as Steven Pinker traces the dramatic decline of violence from ancient tribes to the modern era. By exploring the psychological shifts that empower our "better angels" over our darker instincts, you will gain a transformative perspective on why the world is safer than ever and how we can sustain this peaceful trajectory.
The Dawn of Peace
This chapter explores the massive decline in violence from prehistory to the Middle Ages, debunking the myth of the 'peaceful savage.'
The Myth of the Noble Savage
The Pacification Process
Life in the Middle Ages
The Civilizing Process
Focuses on the psychological and social shift from the Middle Ages to the 20th century inspired by Norbert Elias's theories.
The Rise of Table Manners
The Monopoly on Violence
The Psychology of Restraint
The Humanitarian Revolution
Analyzes the 18th-century Enlightenment shift that abolished institutionalized cruelty like torture and slavery.
Abolishing Judicial Cruelty
The Printing Press Effect
Ending the Global Slave Trade
The Long and New Peace
Covers the decline of major wars between great powers since 1945 and the decline of civil wars since 1989.
The Long Peace Paradigm
The New Peace and Civil Wars
The Terrorism Illusion
The Rights Revolutions
Explores the ongoing decline in smaller-scale violence against marginalized groups, children, and animals.
Civil and Women's Rights
The Protection of Children
The Animal Rights Frontier
Inner Demons: The Roots of Violence
A deep dive into the evolutionary psychology of human aggression and its five distinct manifestations.
Predation and Dominance
The Thirst for Revenge
The Mystery of Sadism
The Trap of Ideology
Better Angels: Our Pro-social Nature
Examines the four human faculties that counteract our violent impulses and drive peaceful cooperation.
The Empathy Paradox
The Power of Self-Control
The Moral Sense and Reason
The Five Historical Forces
The final synthesis of why violence has declined, identifying the external drivers of the 'Better Angels.'
Leviathan and Commerce
Feminization and Cosmopolitanism
The Escalator of Reason
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Interactive Socratic dialogue, level by level