Hi TOK List,

  I found this to be a helpful and fair review of Steven Pinker’s Enlightenment Now, and so I thought I would share it. I think that Pinker is a bit optimistic (that is the position he seeks to defend, so that is not surprising). However, I find his more extreme critics to be unfair. As bland as it sounds, it seems clear that we are “progressing” in a positive manner in some ways and other ways there are major causes for deep concern about the direction and ultimate consequence of this “progressive” project. Ultimately, I am certainly a believer that the Enlightenment has been a good thing and believe we need to find the next phase in it in a positive, growth promoting way.

 

Best,

Gregg

 

___________________________________________

Gregg Henriques, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Graduate Psychology
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James Madison University
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Be that which enhances dignity and well-being with integrity.

Check out my Theory of Knowledge blog at Psychology Today at:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/theory-knowledge