The Better Angels of Our Nature

The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

Cover of the first edition
Author	Steven Pinker
Language	English
Subject	Social philosophy
Publisher	Viking Books
Publication date	2011
Media type	Print
Pages	832
ISBN	978-0-670-02295-3
OCLC	707969125
Dewey Decimal	303.609 PINKER
LC Class	HM1116 .P57 2011

The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined is a 2011 book by Steven Pinker, in which the author argues that violence in the world has declined both in the long run and in the short run and suggests explanations as to why this has occurred.^[1] The book uses data simply documenting declining violence across time and geography. This paints a picture of massive declines in the violence of all forms, from war, to improved treatment of children. He highlights the role of nation-state monopolies on force, of commerce (making other people become more valuable alive than dead), of increased literacy and communication (promoting empathy), as well as a rise in a rational problem-solving orientation as possible causes of this decline in violence. He notes that paradoxically, our impression of violence has not tracked this decline, perhaps because of increased communication,^[2] and that further decline is not inevitable, but is contingent on forces harnessing our better motivations such as empathy and increases in reason.