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The Better Angels of Our Nature

2013
University of Edinburgh

Contrary to the popular impression view that we are living in extraordinarily violent times, rates of violence at all scales have been in decline over the course of history. I explore how this decline could have happened despite the existence of a constant human nature.

Books

The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

Penguin Book
2012

In this book, which preceded and inspired the 2013 Gifford Lectures delivered at the University of Edinburgh, Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor and Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University, identifies six trends that define, or in any case frame, the decline of violence over time.

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Videos

The Better Angels of Our Nature: A History of Violence and Humanity

Prof. Steven Pinker - The Better Angels of Our Nature: A History of Violence and Humanity

Contributor(s)
  • University of Edinburgh