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sapinker's profile
Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker
Verified account
@sapinker

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Steven PinkerVerified account

@sapinker

Cognitive scientist at Harvard.

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

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    Steven Pinker‏Verified account @sapinker Jan 4

    My own contribution to Time's cover story on optimism: Why we refuse to see the bright side.http://time.com/5087384/harvard-professor-steven-pinker-on-why-we-refuse-to-see-the-bright-side/ …

    7:41 AM - 4 Jan 2018
    • 351 Retweets
    • 676 Likes
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    36 replies 351 retweets 676 likes
      1. Nick McLean‏ @Nocmclean Jan 4
        Replying to @sapinker

        Here's one theory: we are freer, more prosperous and more aware of the world than at any other point in history. Paradoxically bc of this we are more aware than ever of injustice, and the ways in which we are not entirely in control of our fates.

        0 replies 3 retweets 6 likes
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      1. New conversation
      2. davidrieff‏ @davidrieff Jan 4
        Replying to @sapinker

        Not a single mention of climate change. Extraordinary.

        1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      3. Jeff Brooks‏ @JeBroo5 Jan 4
        Replying to @davidrieff @sapinker

        Ah yes, climate change! Let's go back to our doom and gloom views of the world because the climate is changing. Better health, increased literacy, egalitarianism and lower crime rates just don't matter when weather patterns aren't what they used to be. How awful! 😒

        1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      4. boo fing online‏ @likingonline Jan 4
        Replying to @JeBroo5 @davidrieff @sapinker

        Don't be blue, half of all Puerto Ricans still lack power three months after some 'weather patterns'. Now that's what I call egalitarian!

        1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
      5. Jeff Brooks‏ @JeBroo5 Jan 4
        Replying to @likingonline @davidrieff @sapinker

        Oh yes, this world is indeed horrible, the likes of which have never been seen! And those cursed hurricanes! We all know hurricanes & natural disasters never existed in history until humans started combusting natural gases! Such cursed times these are.

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      6. boo fing online‏ @likingonline Jan 4
        Replying to @JeBroo5 @davidrieff @sapinker

        So ~1.5 million Americans unnecessarily without power for three months should cry more if they can't see the bright side?

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      7. Jeff Brooks‏ @JeBroo5 Jan 4
        Replying to @likingonline @davidrieff @sapinker

        If it is our goal to focus entirely on every injustice, every inequality and every missed opportunity as evidence that the world is not getting better, then you are indeed correct. We will never see the bright side.

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      8. Jeff Brooks‏ @JeBroo5 Jan 4
        Replying to @JeBroo5 @likingonline and

        On the other hand, once we realize that electric power is a precious commodity that our ancestors could never have dreamed of, we realize that the problems we face today are minuscule in comparison to the problems they faced.

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      9. boo fing online‏ @likingonline Jan 4
        Replying to @JeBroo5 @davidrieff @sapinker

        I understand your argument that we have made tremendous quantifiable progress throughout history. But drawing sunny comparisons between our ancestors seems like a cynical and unproductive response to unnecessary suffering faced by our fellow citizens.

        1 reply 1 retweet 1 like
      10. 7 more replies
      1. Steve Bennett‏ @properjob57 Jan 4
        Replying to @sapinker

        As always apt and intelligent #statsmatter

        0 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
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      1. Aidan K.‏ @WellsiteGeo Jan 4
        Replying to @sapinker

        Because cold-hearted cynicism is beaten into us with every breath. (Which contains oxygen - a potent poison and carcinogen.)

        0 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
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      1. roslyn pall‏ @pall_com Jan 4
        Replying to @sapinker

        Seeing the bright side causes blindness.

        0 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
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      1. Abyecto‏ @abyecto_ Jan 4
        Replying to @sapinker

        Why? Cause there's NOT bright side, Mr. Pinker! 😡

        0 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
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      1. New conversation
      2. keith ls‏ @klsteinmeyer Jan 5
        Replying to @sapinker

        Great read! Where can I read more on numeracy = morally enlightened view?

        1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      3. Aaron Saunders‏ @aaronmsaunders Jan 6
        Replying to @klsteinmeyer @sapinker

        https://stevenpinker.com/publications/better-angels-our-nature …

        0 replies 0 retweets 2 likes
      4. End of conversation
      1. New conversation
      2. OpaqueReference‏ @OpaqueReference Jan 4
        Replying to @sapinker

        Isn't it possible that some of these great improvements in living conditions have come at the cost of something like social cohesion? As an engineer, I find that "improvements" are more often than not just trade-offs from one value to another.

        1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
      3. 1 more reply
      1. Barış Bayram (philosopher)‏ @BarisBayram2045 Jan 4
        Replying to @sapinker

        +1

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
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      1. boo fing online‏ @likingonline Jan 4
        Replying to @sapinker

        Children and teachers are literally freezing in their classrooms in the largest city in the richest state in the richest country. Wonder why they don't see the bright side?

        0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
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