Steven Pinker: The surprising decline in violence

http://www.ted.com Steven Pinker charts the decline of violence from Biblical times to the present, and argues that, though it may seem illogical and even obscene, given Iraq and Darfur, we are living in the most peaceful time in our species' existence.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes -- including speakers such as Jill Bolte Taylor, Sir Ken Robinson, Hans Rosling, Al Gore and Arthur Benjamin. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, politics and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

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[jomc20]

Pinker had a phD at the age of 25, was an assistant professor at 26 at Harvard and Stanford,was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential scientists and thinkers in the world in 2004 and one of Prospect and Foreign Policy's 100 top public intellectuals. I don't think that sort of recognition goes to morons. If you disagree with something he has said, explain what and why but you look really silly calling an obviously very clever man a 'moron' just because you don't like what he says.

[speakerboy777]

Why didnt he just save them, instead of forcing them to commit atrocities? he didnt have to create the people the Isralites were then "forced" to kill. Why didnt he just make the messiah straight away? there was no need to leave people in that state of conflict and misery.

the answer is, obviously, that there is no god, the Israelites were just misguided tribesmen like every other tribe back then that- sadly -manage to influence the decisions of presumabely intelligent people like yourself.

[DrFruedienslip]

Any underlying cause postulates that there is any meaning to anything regarding that most conversation has no dialog regarding any directive regards how law is so obtuse

[Bernard White]

That my friend.

Is an excellent question!

[rosswoof]

I love Lord of The Rings too.

[rosswoof]

There are two forms of knowledge. That which teaches facts and methods of recalling them and that which teaches people to think rightly.

I agree with your comment above but would argue that just because someone has worked through the levels of academia does not in itself automatically make them non-moronic.

[Gilmaris]

Yes, I'm sure they'd be ever so willing to be the wives or concubines of the men who murdered their entire family.

[davidthecook]

Yeah, I wasted time watching that too.

[Gilmaris]

Watched the video you linked to. No refutation found.