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 29 Aug 2017

    Q to Wax foes: Isn't it racist to say civility, self-control are white virtues? & incorrect: Compare POTUS 44 & 45.http://bit.ly/2wNpqJW 

    6:50 AM - 29 Aug 2017
    • 35 Retweets
    • 124 Likes
    • Traddles Abe Thomas crãΐg õf ¢rāigš no-religion Prof. Phil Rumney ejdrouillard Mark Matthews Robert Wilson Tibo
    18 replies 35 retweets 124 likes
      1. New conversation
      2. Jonathan Corbin‏ @JonathanCorbin2 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        It is moronic to argue that pre-1960's America somehow exemplified civility and self-control.

        2 replies 0 retweets 4 likes
      3. Marjorie Meldrum‏ @MeldrumMarjorie 30 Aug 2017
        Replying to @JonathanCorbin2 @sapinker

        Except for those civil and controlled lynchings? What a stupid selective idea.

        0 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
      4. End of conversation
      1. New conversation
      2. Susann's Soapbox‏ @Susann_Sayz 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        Civility and self-control are "virtues" that led to civilization.

        1 reply 0 retweets 3 likes
      3. Damiano Febbrarino‏ @dfebbrarino 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @Susann_Sayz @sapinker

        And in a surprising twist that the white nationalist narrative seems to overlook, civilisation didn't begin with David Hume and Adam Smith.

        1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
      4. Susann's Soapbox‏ @Susann_Sayz 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @dfebbrarino @sapinker

        It appears that our ancient ancestors were more advanced than those two! Realized self-interest IS mutual interest. Bigly!

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      5. Damiano Febbrarino‏ @dfebbrarino 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @Susann_Sayz @sapinker

        What do you mean by 'advanced' here?

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      6. Susann's Soapbox‏ @Susann_Sayz 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @dfebbrarino @sapinker

        Sorry, I misspoke. MS brain fog. Now it sounds like BS. I have no idea what I was trying 2 say. I'll take my meds & get back to you later.

        1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      7. Damiano Febbrarino‏ @dfebbrarino 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @Susann_Sayz @sapinker

        Not at all. And apologies if I appeared like I was about to drag this into a long, dark rant. 👌

        1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      8. Susann's Soapbox‏ @Susann_Sayz 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @dfebbrarino @sapinker

        I LOVE discourse! I DESPISE my sporadic cognitive glitches. A bit embarrassed. I DO know Hume & Smith. Have you read Daniel Kahneman?

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
      9. End of conversation
      1. Griff‏ @GriffLlaregyb 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        I've never understood how you can say culture exists, but deny it affects how people behave.

        0 replies 0 retweets 3 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Maquisard de Sade‏ @MrCatullus 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        You know that isn't the argument. Why are you misrepresenting it?

        0 replies 0 retweets 3 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. New conversation
      2. Mark Caplan‏ @MarkCaplanCLT 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        [Wax] "argued for a set of behavioral norms that are available to all peoples" Perfect instance of the Blank Slate fallacy.

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      3. Darren Doesn't Write Much‏ @Darren_B_Lane 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @MarkCaplanCLT @sapinker

        So, since people are not blank slates, some of them cannot exercise civility and self control? This is your point?

        1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      4. Mark Caplan‏ @MarkCaplanCLT 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @Darren_B_Lane @sapinker

        Precisely! Groups manifest innate differences in bourgeois values such as self-control, delayed gratification, and future orientation.

        1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      5. Darren Doesn't Write Much‏ @Darren_B_Lane 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @MarkCaplanCLT @sapinker

        And so it's wrong to encourage or expect someone to share "bourgeois" values? We can't expect folks in our civil society to be civil?

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
      6. End of conversation
      1. Richard Atkinson‏ @Bronowskiite 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        All morality depends on delayed - or denied/restricted - gratification. That goes back to the Stoics and Epicureans, and beyond.

        0 replies 1 retweet 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Gilbert Haisman‏ @GilbertHaisman 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        Cultures vary through time. Berlin's culture was evil under Hitler but better recently. Thus, all cultures cannot be equal at any one time

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. Garrett‏ @GarrettDodge 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        Seems a bit ironic given the timing this week of burning man do you think?

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. New conversation
      2. Richard Atkinson‏ @Bronowskiite 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @sapinker

        Just so - civility and self-control are, regrettably, virtues exhibited only by a minority in any ethnic group, it seems.

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      3. Richard Atkinson‏ @Bronowskiite 29 Aug 2017
        Replying to @Bronowskiite @sapinker

        BUT the case in point is quite different focusing not on race, but on the US bourgeosie before the Swinging Sixties. Stolid virtue, but yes.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
      4. End of conversation

    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