If our genes dictate our actions, can we be held responsible for them?
Pinker identifies three primary dogmas that have dominated Western intellectual life for decades:
Pinker systematically dismantles these fears. He argues that is a moral demand for equal rights, not a biological claim that everyone is identical. Furthermore, acknowledging human nature doesn't excuse bad behavior; it helps us design better social systems that work with our instincts rather than against them. Conclusion
The idea that the mind has no innate structure and is molded entirely by culture and experience.
If we aren't born equal, will that justify discrimination?
If our genes dictate our actions, can we be held responsible for them?
Pinker identifies three primary dogmas that have dominated Western intellectual life for decades:
Pinker systematically dismantles these fears. He argues that is a moral demand for equal rights, not a biological claim that everyone is identical. Furthermore, acknowledging human nature doesn't excuse bad behavior; it helps us design better social systems that work with our instincts rather than against them. Conclusion
The idea that the mind has no innate structure and is molded entirely by culture and experience.
If we aren't born equal, will that justify discrimination?