Skip to content
By using Twitter’s services you agree to our Cookies Use. We and our partners operate globally and use cookies, including for analytics, personalisation, and ads.
  • Home Home Home, current page.
  • About

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Language: English
    • Bahasa Indonesia
    • Bahasa Melayu
    • Català
    • Čeština
    • Dansk
    • Deutsch
    • English UK
    • Español
    • Filipino
    • Français
    • Hrvatski
    • Italiano
    • Magyar
    • Nederlands
    • Norsk
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Română
    • Slovenčina
    • Suomi
    • Svenska
    • Tiếng Việt
    • Türkçe
    • Ελληνικά
    • Български език
    • Русский
    • Српски
    • Українська мова
    • עִבְרִית
    • العربية
    • فارسی
    • मराठी
    • हिन्दी
    • বাংলা
    • ગુજરાતી
    • தமிழ்
    • ಕನ್ನಡ
    • ภาษาไทย
    • 한국어
    • 日本語
    • 简体中文
    • 繁體中文
  • Have an account? Log in
    Have an account?
    · Forgot password?

    New to Twitter?
    Sign up
sapinker's profile
Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker
Verified account
@sapinker

Tweets

Steven PinkerVerified account

@sapinker

Cognitive scientist at Harvard.

Boston, MA
pinker.wjh.harvard.edu
Joined January 2010

Tweets

  • © 2018 Twitter
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Terms
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • Ads info
Dismiss
Previous
Next

Go to a person's profile

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @

Promote this Tweet

Block

  • Tweet with a location

    You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more

    Your lists

    Create a new list


    Under 100 characters, optional

    Privacy

    Copy link to Tweet

    Embed this Tweet

    Embed this Video

    Add this Tweet to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Add this video to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Hmm, there was a problem reaching the server.

    By embedding Twitter content in your website or app, you are agreeing to the Twitter Developer Agreement and Developer Policy.

    Preview

    Why you're seeing this ad

    Log in to Twitter

    · Forgot password?
    Don't have an account? Sign up »

    Sign up for Twitter

    Not on Twitter? Sign up, tune into the things you care about, and get updates as they happen.

    Sign up
    Have an account? Log in »

    Two-way (sending and receiving) short codes:

    Country Code For customers of
    United States 40404 (any)
    Canada 21212 (any)
    United Kingdom 86444 Vodafone, Orange, 3, O2
    Brazil 40404 Nextel, TIM
    Haiti 40404 Digicel, Voila
    Ireland 51210 Vodafone, O2
    India 53000 Bharti Airtel, Videocon, Reliance
    Indonesia 89887 AXIS, 3, Telkomsel, Indosat, XL Axiata
    Italy 4880804 Wind
    3424486444 Vodafone
    » See SMS short codes for other countries

    Confirmation

     

    Welcome home!

    This timeline is where you’ll spend most of your time, getting instant updates about what matters to you.

    Tweets not working for you?

    Hover over the profile pic and click the Following button to unfollow any account.

    Say a lot with a little

    When you see a Tweet you love, tap the heart — it lets the person who wrote it know you shared the love.

    Spread the word

    The fastest way to share someone else’s Tweet with your followers is with a Retweet. Tap the icon to send it instantly.

    Join the conversation

    Add your thoughts about any Tweet with a Reply. Find a topic you’re passionate about, and jump right in.

    Learn the latest

    Get instant insight into what people are talking about now.

    Get more of what you love

    Follow more accounts to get instant updates about topics you care about.

    Find what's happening

    See the latest conversations about any topic instantly.

    Never miss a Moment

    Catch up instantly on the best stories happening as they unfold.

    Steven Pinker‏Verified account @sapinker 7 Feb 2016

    Amazing but true: Anesthesia @ 1st aroused strong opposition - a lesson for foes of beneficial tech advances today. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26828088 

    9:46 AM - 7 Feb 2016
    • 175 Retweets
    • 236 Likes
    • 🦉 Wisdomination 🦉 Philip E. Tetlock Jessie Ragsdale Ben Winegard Анатолій Костюк Infidel Hazem A. M. Awad,PhD Jean Lucas ⚡️ Val Giddings
    21 replies 175 retweets 236 likes
      1. Jeff DelViscio‏Verified account @Jeffdelviscio 18 Nov 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        And @statnews time travelled through where that first happened...the "Ether Dome"https://www.statnews.com/2016/04/11/ether-dome-video/ …

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Late TV Reviews‏ @APreciousMettle 28 Feb 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @sapinker @SamHarrisOrg Distrusting new discoveries isn't necessarily wrong, just as trust isn't.

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Late TV Reviews‏ @APreciousMettle 28 Feb 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @sapinker @SamHarrisOrg Not "amazing." Quite run-of-the-mill, actually, when people are faced with something new & unknown.

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. zeroroguer‏ @zeroroguer 7 Feb 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @sapinker The destiny of any "anesthesia" is to raise opposition, specially among those who suffer pain.

        0 replies 1 retweet 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. New conversation
      2. Rand Simberg‏ @Rand_Simberg 21 Nov 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        Don't know how historically accurate, but recently saw movie about medieval history of dissection (i.e., "necromancy"). @forachelP

        1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      3. Rand Simberg‏ @Rand_Simberg 21 Nov 2016
        Replying to @Rand_Simberg @sapinker @forachelP

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Physician_(2013_film) …

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
      4. End of conversation
      1.  🦉 Wisdomination  🦉‏ @Supreme_Owl_FTW 17 Apr 2017
        Replying to @sapinker @SilverVVulpes

        Now: GMOs, biotech, vaccines, nuclear. Near future: AI, brain-computer interfaces. Hysterical confused monkeys will oppose everything good 🙄

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1.  🦉 Wisdomination  🦉‏ @Supreme_Owl_FTW 17 Apr 2017
        Replying to @sapinker @SilverVVulpes

        Technophobia is a moral flaw.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1.  🦉 Wisdomination  🦉‏ @Supreme_Owl_FTW 17 Apr 2017
        Replying to @sapinker @SilverVVulpes

        Humanity’s future rests on plowing through the luddites without paying them the slightest heed. They’ll be thankful five minutes later.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1.  🦉 Wisdomination  🦉‏ @Supreme_Owl_FTW 17 Apr 2017
        Replying to @sapinker @SilverVVulpes

        Guarantee fire, plow & agriculture were scary and heretical and "unnatural" for the exact types of people back in the day.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1.  🦉 Wisdomination  🦉‏ @Supreme_Owl_FTW 17 Apr 2017
        Replying to @sapinker @SilverVVulpes

        Everything useful arouses instinctive opposition at first. Is taken for granted and non-controversial except in fringes once spreads. Sad.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Joseph Ratliff‏ @JosephRatliff 17 Apr 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        Also the "beneficial" part of each tech advance get refined over time, no? Not quite as beneficial in the beginning just because we say so?

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Joseph Ratliff‏ @JosephRatliff 17 Apr 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        Anesthetic practices were just as good "back then" as they are today? Or, maybe opposition until proven (not just stated) safe is warranted?

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Peter Van Valkenburgh‏ @valkenburgh 18 Nov 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        as if that's settled now!? @sapinker @AdamThierer calling @nntaleb !

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. I Aver 🌲‏ @i_aver 18 Nov 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        What was *first* aroused was: "Gentlemen, this is no humbug". @sapinker @SilverVVulpespic.twitter.com/cAOyj4Bbyr

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. MaryJane Mom‏ @MaryJaneCures 28 Feb 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @sapinker Always proceed with caution and an open mind!

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Sam‏ @SamSaylor5 9 Feb 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @sapinker @SamHarrisOrg so did blood donation and euthanasia. Doesn't mean strong opposition/disgust is always innapropriate. Weak argument.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Laura Goans‏ @ltgoans77 7 Feb 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @sapinker @SamHarrisOrg Morons. Had c-sec & appendectomy sans anesth. All part of god's plan, I guess. Thanks a lot, Eve.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. David Louys‏ @DavidLouys 7 Feb 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @sapinker honestly I don't think many of us would accept to go through surgery with 19th century anesthesia.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. wigmaker of ill repute in a room over a stinking t‏ @johnsonpenelope 7 Feb 2016
        Replying to @sapinker

        @sapinker Amazing and also true: Therac-25 had its critics too

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo

    Loading seems to be taking a while.

    Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.

      Promoted Tweet

      false

      • © 2018 Twitter
      • About
      • Help Center
      • Terms
      • Privacy policy
      • Cookies
      • Ads info