Understanding Human Nature with Steven Pinker – Conversations with History

(Visit: http://www.uctv.tv) Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Harvard’s Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology, for a discussion of his intellectual journey. Pinker discusses the origins and evolution of his thinking on human nature. Topics include: growing up in Montreal in a Jewish family, the impact of the 1960s, his education, and the trajectory of his research interests. He explains his early work in linguistics and how he came to write his recent work, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined. In the conversation, Pinker describes the importance of interdisciplinary research and analyzes creativity. He concludes with a discussion of how science can contribute to the humanities and offers advice to students on how to prepare for the future. Recorded on 02/04/2014. Series: “Conversations with History” [4/2014] [Humanities] [Show ID: 27968]

Tarrus Riley – Human Nature

2009
Video Rating: / 5

40 thoughts on “Understanding Human Nature with Steven Pinker – Conversations with History”

  1. He is atheist and secularist? What a laugh. This guy is Jewish to the core, and he takes this VERY seriously. He has lauded Jewish intelligence and given lectures on it. He is a Jewish liar and total bullshit artist. Wake up people.

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  2. he doesn't do it.  I watched the whole deal… enthralled as always by Pinker…. and a nice discovery.. Edge.org... but…. 12:37 how does he explain that it was that 2nd pulse only, in a very short window of Darwinian time…. that abstract thought and a human language suddenly burst forth??? that is not Creationist yet also is counter to Chomsky's thesis of a Language Snowflake? and that is not just Chomsky. of course. hey! me too! it seems to have been sudden (language capacity) or is that he completely disconnect language with some sudden miracle of abstract thought capacity?

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  3. His book Better angels of our nature's first chapter churned my stomach more than when I read American psycho. Great read btw.

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  4. (at) 25min's: isn't he just copying Lakoff? Kinda like how his book THE STUFF OF THOUGHT just steals data from the field of Cognitive Linguistics in general.

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  5. Pinker tells humans they're basically wonderful, which is what we all want to hear. He ignores that our current system is based on organized brutality against the biosphere and billions of sentient animals. We're the most destructive species ever seen.

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  6. My god!! the interviewer spends almost half the video on nothing… WE KNOW PINKER IS QUALIFIED, WE KNOW HE'S GREAT so get on to the ideas and data and knowledge, he suchs his dick and flatters him way too much for half the damn video at least!! I watched other Pinker videos and the guy likes getting to it right away, so what is this shit about where he studied when he didi it what sort of family he comes from, did they encourage learning (for god's sake!!), how he decided to study what he did… the video is titled "Understanding Human Nature," so get to it dumbass!! — Pinker has a lot to say about it and you just spend and waste your time and ours and his on bullshit!! We want to hear wha he says about HUMAN NATURE!!

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  7. I don't have a very strong view on this, but when he mentioned the situation he experienced with the police going on strike when he was a child, I couldn't help but think of a dam breaking. So I'm not sure that's a fair way for him to judge human nature.

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  8. is his threesome we think, we share, we cooperate? man talk about systems based on fear that work against us – imagine if our culture reflected values conducive to he three

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  9. his comment on the empirical test on anarchism seems odd, surely just removing an institution like the police suddenly in a hierarchical, class, competition and power  mad world is of course courting insanity the environment does need to be conducive we would need to be imaginative create systems that foster cooperation

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  10. Human nature is what we all think and feel, but have to rise above. Rape, murder, pedophilia, casual sex or casual violence, theft, these are all in NATURE. All animals do those things. 90% of natures births are from rape outside of humans. I'm not at all saying they are acceptable or okay, I am saying that they are natural, and that we as humans, need to rise above our natural and primal instincts and feelings. That's what separates us from animals. There you go. Key to the universe.

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  11. MMMMMMM….. SWEEEEEEEEEEETNESS On A Hot Sunny Saturday Afternoon In Florida….. Missing Brooklyn NY Hereeeeee THO Always!!!!!!!

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  12. I was in my room this a.m and i heard this song playing from a distance outside. And i was captured by his voice because NO ONE really does MJ songs better than MJ himself. (and to mention I have MJ'S Human Nature song on my phone and i listen to it often.) I was like wow i gotta hear this upclose.. put it on youtube Human Nature reggae version, and behold it was TAURRUS! Was surprised and not at the same time. cuz Taurrus can sing his ass off! Him and JAHCURE are my absolute FAVORITES EVER!!!! I am downloading this RIGHT NOW! I LOVE IT!!

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  13. i have to play 'Human Nature' everyday Ive really got into Tarrus Riley Excellent Music
    Voice and Bass sounds

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  14. i love this song really bad it is a nice song love it 💞💞💞😍😍😘😘👏👏👏😻😻😻💋💋

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