The Better Angels of Our Nature: A Journey Through the History of Violence

In his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Steven Pinker argues that violence has declined throughout history. This is a bold claim, given the seemingly endless stream of news stories about wars, murders, and other acts of violence. But Pinker backs up his claim with a wealth of data from a variety of sources, including crime statistics, war records, and archaeological evidence.

The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

by Steven Pinker

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	9728 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	844 pages

FREE

Pinker begins his book by defining violence as "the intentional use of physical force against another person or group." He then traces the history of violence from the earliest hominids to the present day. He shows that, while there have been periods of great violence, such as the Thirty Years' War in Europe or the Rwandan genocide, overall levels of violence have declined over time.

There are a number of factors that Pinker believes have contributed to the decline of violence. One is the rise of civilization. As societies become more complex and organized, they develop more effective ways to control violence. Another factor is the spread of education. Education helps people to develop empathy and compassion for others, which makes them less likely to resort to violence. Finally, Pinker argues that the development of more humane values has also played a role in the decline of violence.

Pinker's book is a fascinating and thought-provoking look at the history of violence. He makes a strong case that violence has declined over time, and he offers a number of plausible explanations for this decline. The Better Angels of Our Nature is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of violence or the causes of human behavior.

The Decline of Violence

One of the most striking findings of Pinker's book is that violence has declined throughout history. This is evident in a number of different ways. For example, crime rates have fallen in most developed countries over the past few decades. The number of wars has also declined, and the wars that do occur are less deadly than they used to be.

There are a number of factors that have contributed to the decline of violence. One is the rise of civilization. As societies become more complex and organized, they develop more effective ways to control violence. Another factor is the spread of education. Education helps people to develop empathy and compassion for others, which makes them less likely to resort to violence. Finally, Pinker argues that the development of more humane values has also played a role in the decline of violence.

The decline of violence is a complex phenomenon, and there is no single explanation for it. However, Pinker's book provides a number of plausible explanations, and he makes a strong case that violence has declined over time.

The Causes of Violence

While Pinker argues that violence has declined throughout history, he does not believe that it has been eliminated. In fact, he believes that there are a number of factors that can lead to violence, including:

• Poverty
• Inequality
• Discrimination
• Political instability
• Mental illness

These are just some of the factors that can contribute to violence. It is important to remember that violence is never inevitable, and that there are always things that can be done to prevent it.

The Better Angels of Our Nature is a fascinating and thought-provoking look at the history of violence. Pinker makes a strong case that violence has declined over time, and he offers a number of plausible explanations for this decline. However, he also recognizes that violence is still a problem in many parts of the world. The Better Angels of Our Nature is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of violence or the causes of human behavior.

The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

by Steven Pinker

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	9728 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	844 pages

FREE