the case for reason, science, humanism, and progress Pinker, Steven 1954- creator author. text bibliography Print books. nyu 2018 2018 monographic eng

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xix, 556 pages : illustrations, charts ; 25 cm Is the world really falling apart? Is the ideal of progress obsolete? Cognitive scientist Steven Pinker urges us to step back from the gory headlines and prophecies of doom, which play to our psychological biases. Instead, follow the data. In seventy-five graphs, Pinker shows that life, health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, and happiness are on the rise, not just in the West, but worldwide. This progress is not the result of some cosmic force. It is a gift of the Enlightenment: the conviction that reason and science can enhance human flourishing. Far from being a naïve hope, the Enlightenment, we now know, has worked. But more than ever, it needs a vigorous defense. The Enlightenment project swims against currents of human nature -- tribalism, authoritarianism, demonization, magical thinking -- which demagogues are all too willing to exploit. Many commentators, committed to political, religious, or romantic ideologies, fight a rearguard action against it. The result is a corrosive fatalism and a willingness to wreck the precious institutions of liberal democracy and global cooperation. Pinker makes the case for reason, science, and humanism: the ideals we need to confront our problems and continue our progress. Dare to understand! -- Entro, evo, info -- Counter-enlightenments -- Progressophobia -- Life -- Health -- Sustenance -- Wealth -- Inequality -- The environment -- Peace -- Safety -- Terrorism -- Democracy -- Equal rights -- Knowledge -- Quality of life -- Happiness -- Existential threats -- The future of progress -- Reason -- Science -- Humanism. Steven Pinker. Includes bibliographical references (pages 455-524) and index. Progress Civilization, Modern 21st century Enlightenment Social change Quality of life Humanism Reason Progress Social change PSYCHOLOGY / Social Psychology SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects SOCIAL SCIENCE / Violence in Society HM891 .P56 2018 9780525427575 (hardcover) 2017301147 YDX 180228 20180522105411.0 20381115 eng