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The Harvard professor of psychology says he doesn’t sign on to the pessimistic conclusion that humans are inherently irrational
The Enlightenment torchbearer is eloquent in his defence of clear thinking and uncharitable to what he deems irrational belief
Scientific breakthroughs should stem the anti-modern trend
Look beyond the gloom of the daily headlines and the case for progress is still strong
Preserving peaceful relations in an era of rapid shifts in relative power is tough
‘My 20-year-old self would be surprised that I’m thrice-married and childless’
A fascinating installation employing professional mourners from across the world — but are we participants or voyeurs?
The world may be getting better in many ways but climate change is not one of them
The centre ground leaves some people ravenous for more fulfilling ideologies
For Steven Pinker, the good news is clear. But progress depends on critics as well as cheerleaders, argues Jan-Werner Müller
‘What am I scared of? Let’s just say it’s nice to get letters from the NHS saying everything seems fine’
West blew its peace dividend in 20-year party of consumption and speculation, says Niall Ferguson
From 1970 to 2008, death rates fell even in war zones because gains from better healthcare trumped deaths from fighting
A writing guide that attacks the purists
If people are protected from risk, there will be more risk in the system, not less
‘In the current conflict, nobody seems eager to kill. Not even John McCain proposes American military intervention’
‘They’d have stopped the first world war fast if soldiers had live-tweeted the carnage’
The experimental psychologist explains why we no longer live in violent times
Steven Pinker argues that we are in an era of unprecedented peace and civility. Here he considers books that have helped bring this about
The managing director advises women not to shy away from making their mark in the business world
Skimming the history books for lessons in invective is not a constructive
Life has ceased to be quite so poor, nasty, brutish and short – although you wouldn’t know it from watching TV news
A Jewish salesman finds Anne Frank, the 20th century’s most famous diarist, in the attic of his farmhouse
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