Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress by Steven Pinker
"My new favorite book of all time." --Bill Gates
"A terrific book...[Pinker] recounts the progress across a broad array of metrics, from health to wars, the environment to happiness, equal rights to quality of life." --The New York Times
The follow-up to Pinker's groundbreaking The Better Angels of Our Nature presents the big picture of human progress: people are living longer, healthier, freer, and happier lives, and while our problems are formidable, the solutions lie in the Enlightenment ideal of using reason and science.
Is the world really falling apart? Is the ideal of progress obsolete? In this elegant assessment of the human condition in the third millennium, cognitive scientist and public intellectual Steven Pinker urges us to step back from the gory headlines and...
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Summary: "Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress" by Steven Pinker argues that despite prevalent negative perceptions, humanity is experiencing significant progress across various metrics such as health, freedom, and happiness. This sequel to "The Better Angels of Our Nature" emphasizes the importance of Enlightenment ideals, advocating for the use of reason and science to address contemporary challenges rather than succumbing to pessimism fueled by sensational news.
Pinker's work builds on Enlightenment philosophy, which champions reason and scientific inquiry as tools for human advancement. The book challenges the notion that society is declining by presenting data that demonstrates improvements in well-being, longevity, and rights over time. This perspective is particularly relevant in today’s media landscape, which often amplifies negative events and crises.
Keywords: human progress, Enlightenment ideals, cognitive science, public intellectual, data-driven analysis
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