The Better Angels of Our Nature

The Better Angels of Our Nature
Name	The Better Angels of Our Nature
Author	Steven Pinker
Subject	History of violence, Psychology
Publisher	Viking Press
Pub date	2011
Pages	832
Isbn	978-0-670-02295-3
Preceded by	The Stuff of Thought
Followed by	Enlightenment Now

The Better Angels of Our Nature. It is a 2011 book by the cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker, which argues that violence in human societies has significantly and substantially declined over time. The work synthesizes data from numerous historical and statistical sources to challenge the perception that the modern era is uniquely violent. Pinker attributes this decline to a confluence of psychological, historical, and sociological forces, suggesting a more peaceful trajectory for humanity.

Overview and thesis

The central thesis posits a long-term decline in rates of violence, from the brutal conditions of pre-state societies through to the twenty-first century. Pinker draws upon a wide array of evidence, including data on homicide rates, warfare, genocide, and torture, to illustrate this trend. He frames this decline within the context of the Enlightenment and the application of reason, arguing that specific historical processes have actively pacified human behavior. The title itself is a reference to a phrase from Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address, invoking the capacity for human goodness.

Historical trends in violence

Pinker identifies several major historical shifts that contributed to the reduction of violence. The first is the "Pacification Process," where the rise of the first Leviathan-like states, such as those in ancient Mesopotamia and under rulers like Charlemagne, reduced anarchic tribal warfare. The "Civilizing Process," a concept borrowed from sociologist Norbert Elias, describes the consolidation of power in early modern European monarchies like the Kingdom of France, which reduced feudal violence. The "Humanitarian Revolution," encompassing movements like the abolition of slavery and the decline of practices such as witch-hunts following the Age of Enlightenment, marked a turning point. Finally, the "Long Peace" refers to the absence of major-power war since the end of World War II and the Cold War, while the "New Peace" suggests a further decline in conflicts since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Psychological and cognitive factors

The book proposes that human nature contains both violent and peaceful inclinations, which Pinker metaphorically labels as "inner demons" and "better angels." Key psychological factors promoting violence include predation, dominance, revenge, sadism, and ideology. Counteracting these are the "better angels": empathy, self-control, a moral sense, reason, and what he terms "the expanding circle" of concern, a concept influenced by the philosopher Peter Singer. Pinker discusses the role of cognitive biases, such as the availability heuristic—where vivid, media-driven images of violence distort perceptions of risk—in making the decline of violence counterintuitive to many.

Societal and institutional changes

Pinker attributes the decline in violence to several broad societal developments. The rise of the state, with a monopoly on legitimate force as theorized by Max Weber, is presented as a primary pacifying force, reducing cycles of blood feud and vendetta. The growth of commerce, exemplified by the Hanseatic League and later globalization, is framed as a positive-sum game making other people more valuable alive. The increasing empowerment of women, linked to broader feminist movements, is correlated with less aggressive societies. Finally, the forces of cosmopolitanism and the growth of literacy, fueled by the printing press and the proliferation of the novel, are argued to have expanded empathy and critical reasoning.

Criticisms and debates

The book has sparked significant academic and public debate. Some historians, like John Gray, have criticized its sweeping historical narrative and use of statistics, arguing it underestimates the violence of modern institutions. Anthropologists, including Douglas P. Fry, have challenged Pinker's characterization of pre-state societies as exceptionally violent, citing evidence from groups like the San people. Critics also argue that the analysis may downplay structural violence, such as economic inequality, and contemporary forms of suffering. The focus on interstate war has been questioned in light of ongoing civil wars and non-state conflict.

Influence and legacy

The book has had a substantial impact on public intellectual discourse, winning awards like the 2012 Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science. It has influenced figures such as Bill Gates, who called it one of the most important books he had ever read. The work established a major data-driven argument for human progress, a theme Pinker expanded upon in his subsequent book, Enlightenment Now. It continues to be a central reference point in debates about the trajectory of human civilization, the legacy of the Enlightenment, and the potential for continued moral progress despite events like the Rwandan genocide and the Syrian civil war.

Category:2011 non-fiction books Category:Books by Steven Pinker Category:History books about violence