The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature
Document Type
Book
Journal/Book Title/Conference
The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature
Publisher
Penguin Group
Publication Date
2002
Abstract
In The Blank Slate, Steven Pinker, one of the world's leading experts on language and the mind, explores the idea of human nature and its moral, emotional, and political colorings. With characteristic wit, lucidity, and insight, Pinker argues that the dogma that the mind has no innate traits-a doctrine held by many intellectuals during the past century-denies our common humanity and our individual preferences, replaces objective analyses of social problems with feel-good slogans, and distorts our understanding of politics, violence, parenting, and the arts. Injecting calm and rationality into debates that are notorious for ax-grinding and mud-slinging, Pinker shows the importance of an honest acknowledgment of human nature based on science and common sense.
Recommended Citation
Pinker, Steven, "The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature" (2002). ADVANCE Library Collection. Paper 205.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/advance/205
Comments
Originally published by Penguin Group. Limited preview available through remote link.