Steven Pinker - La Ciudad de las Ideas 2010 - The Origins of the Future

[ZachRose88]

Man's inhumanity towards man is depressing beyond comprehension. I can't believe people used to impale other people for any reason; let alone a trivial one. Ugh. Thank goodness we live when we do.

[neeraj2608]

@ZachRose88 yeah, why impale them when you can just blow them up or shoot them

[pawsoned]

2:16 "Oh, I'm supposed to use this [i.e. the mic] Ok" NO COMMENT LMAO

[Naturalist1979]

21:27: "If, indeed, despite impressions, the long term trend - though halting and incomplete - is that violence of all kinds is decreasing, I think it calls for a rehabilitation of the concept of modernity and progress, a cause for guarded optimimism and a reason to cherish for the forces of civilization and enlightenment that have made it possible."

Anyone criticizing modernity, progress and enlightenment (conservatives, postmodernists, John Gray-adepts) needs to return to the drawing board.