Many believe that the world is experiencing unprecedented violence, with increasing wars and murders; however, Steven Pinker, a prominent psychologist from Harvard, argues otherwise. In his book, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, he presents compelling data showing significant decreases in war deaths, domestic violence, racism, rape, and murder.
Pinker asserts that “the decline of violence may be the most significant and least appreciated development in the history of our species.” He attributes this decline to several factors: the growth of government, increased literacy, expanded trade, and a rise in cosmopolitanism. He explains that these changes have led to better impulse control, greater empathy towards others, a preference for negotiation over aggression, and a critical approach to harmful ideologies.
In essence, Pinker emphasizes that humanity’s capacity for empathy, self-control, moral reasoning, and rational thought has helped steer society away from violence towards cooperation and altruism.