Steven Pinker on Language, Reason, and the Future of Violence | Conversations with Tyler

Comments · 76

• DA

  @danwroy · 2 years ago

  It's great hearing Pinker meet Cowen halfway by calling Chomsky a kind of cult leader

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• PE

  @peterdunn1658 · 9 years ago (edited)

  If i only had 25 seconds to show someone why Pinker is so awesome (20'20" - 20'45") would sum it up perfectly 😃

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• SH

  @sheafisher3578 · 8 years ago (edited)

  Tyler is a great interviewer, especially because he lets the guests speak fully, even when they disagree with him. He doesn't jump in and interrupt with qualifiers about what he originally asked or said. He just lets it be on the table, gives the guest room to speak, and then he gracefully moves onto the next topic. By the way, I have loved Steven Pinker since I read How the Mind Works back when I was 19 in 2006. He's influenced my worldview a lot. Nice vid with two top thinkers.

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• JO

  @jonathanmoreno240 · 9 years ago

  I am happy to see Tyler Cowen so willing to be refuted. I think Pinker positions are incredibly sensible. Very good conversation.

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• DI

  @DivineBanana · 9 years ago

  love the throwback to the 18th century with the "beethoven" hairdo

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• JA

  @JaneEyre-q1z · 6 years ago

  Wow...two of my favorite persons talking together...wow.

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• HA

  @hamnchee · 9 years ago

  That constant, subtle background noise is Stephen's luscious hair rubbing on the microphone stem.

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• CO

  @corylatimer · 8 years ago

  The very last question and answer was one of the most brilliant part of this brilliant interview.<br><br>Any intellectually honest person can potentially become an authority on any number of subjects; one must only avoid tribal-group think and persevere in their pursuit of truth and their articulation of it, overcoming any opposition which attempts to deter them.

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• TY

  @TylersTerrain · 9 years ago

  One reason that I find listening to Steve Pinker as useful is that his well spoken words influence how I speak to others. He is calm, precise, and useful with his words - a mastery that is as universally useful as language itself.

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• JA

  @Jay_Flippen · 5 years ago

  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVaWR8ISEd4&amp;t=2642">44:02</a> to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVaWR8ISEd4&amp;t=2699">44:59</a> This is typically true about causing general effects on systems. &nbsp;Antisocial or destructive actions which go against the functionality of mechanical objects, systems of objects, groups of people, and individual&apos;s rights and wellbeing can be most easily accomplished by removing or altering any fundamentally entwined part of that system... &nbsp;It is much easier to throw a wrench into a set of gears than to design, machine, and set up a collection of interacting gears. &nbsp;The same is true for political maneuvering; it is often more politically effective to destabilize opponents by deriding their positions and public persona than to focus on building support for one&apos;s own functioning political stance on issues. &nbsp;I think this leads into the question of &apos;to what extent are people willing to protect others&apos; rights and wellbeing and how do unusual cases of oppressive forces arise?&apos; &nbsp;Meddling with other entities doings in unscrupulous ways can successfully allow for the prioritization of one&apos;s own goals if done so tacitly. &nbsp;These tacit kind of tactics bring into scope the limited amount of intelligence and understanding that frequently exists with the people inhabiting these socially dishonest and conniving roles within society who are intelligent enough to receive social attention but not intelligent enough to do so carefully and constructively.<br><br>Perhaps humans will more commonly reach plateaus of rationality and progress with how our technological landscapes develop. &nbsp;Just think about something like...YouTube comments. &nbsp;Nobody intelligent ever reads or writes those meaningless rants.

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• DA

  @davidanderson9664 · 6 years ago

  The $10k bomb idea at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVaWR8ISEd4&amp;t=2400">40:00</a> is a brainless question to pose. &nbsp; &nbsp;Pinker is excellent of course. His favorite tie, btw. :-)

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• 4R

  @4r4ber · 6 years ago

  &quot;Enlightenment now&quot; - so minutes 23 to 25 was where Pinker got the title for &nbsp;his future book from ?! Or Cowen that prescient? - Anyway, what an AMAZING conversation!