"Today we are probably living in the most peaceful time in our species existence"

by Splash 5 Replies latest social current

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  Splash

  Steven Pinker charts the decline of violence from Biblical times to the present, and argues that, though it may seem illogical and even obscene, given Iraq and Darfur, we are living in the most peaceful time in our species' existence.

  http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_pinker_on_the_myth_of_violence
  
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  Simon

  TED talks are always excellent.

  Expect this information in an upcoming issue of the Watchtower ... not.

  Killing has become more mechanized but the losses in wars are now much less than within a century ago when millions regularly died on battlefields.

  Also, the reporting is more widespread and constant so every loss is reported hundreds of times.

  Things aren't always as depressing as they may seem :thumbsup:
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  cofty

  Read "The Better Angels of our Nature". It will change your worldview.
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  Simon

  Thanks, the Wikipedia page on it looks like an interesting summary
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  TheListener

  This was really interesting. I am going to have my kids watch this TED talk. They already watch some of them in school so they're familiar with the format.
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  Vidiot

  I tried convincing my JW Mom of this a little while back.

  She wouldn't believe it.