What is the difference between physical violence and other forms of 'violence'?

The speaker distinguishes between physical violence (murder, assault, war) and metaphorical violence (economic inequality, verbal abuse), arguing that while the latter exists, genuine progress is seen in the reduction of the former.

Can state-sanctioned violence, like policing or capital punishment, be considered 'necessary'?

While not 'good' violence, some state actions are deemed necessary to deter or prevent greater amounts of violence, as per Hobbesian philosophy. The ideal is for norms to become so internalized that state intervention becomes minimal.

Does Freud's theory of a 'death drive' explain human violence?

Pinker is skeptical of Freud's death drive theory, finding it mystical and less plausible than a Hobbesian view of violence driven by self-interest and fear, or the idea that aggressive impulses are triggered by situations rather than being a constant urge.

Is there an 'endpoint' to the decline of violence?

It's unlikely that violence will reach zero, as residual forms like impulsive acts and certain types of crime will likely persist. However, categories like human sacrifice and slavery have been eliminated, and other forms, like interstate war, could potentially reach zero.

Can population growth and resource scarcity lead to increased violence?

The speaker argues that population density is not a primary risk factor for violence, and resource scarcity is often a red herring. Wealth and prosperity increasingly come from cooperation and innovation, not just material resources.

What is the main message or 'agenda' of Steven Pinker's work on violence?

The core message is to treat violence as an empirical problem, to analyze its causes and reduction methods using data, and to prioritize understanding over moralizing or catastrophizing.

How did the 1960s affect the trend of declining violence?

The 1960s saw a partial reversal in the decline of homicide rates in many Western countries, attributed to societal shifts like defiance of authority and individualism, which allowed crime to increase.

Do nuclear weapons contribute to global peace?

Pinker is skeptical that nuclear weapons are the primary reason for the post-WWII 'long peace,' arguing that conventional warfare was devastating enough to create a deterrent and that nuclear threats are often too disproportionate to be credible.

What factors does Pinker identify as pacifying forces in society?

Key pacifying forces include good government, international commerce and trade creating economic interdependence, education, cultural exchange (cosmopolitanism), and the empowerment of women.

Steven Pinker on Violence

School of Life

Education4 min read74 min video

Jan 16, 2013|36,561 views|522|82

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Steven Pinker argues that violence has significantly declined in human history, despite news headlines.

Key Insights

Despite media focus on negative events, global violence rates (wars, homicides) have drastically decreased over centuries.

Historical data shows a significant downward trend in personal violence, with modern individuals having a far lower chance of being murdered than their ancestors.

While physical violence has declined, metaphorical uses of 'violence' (e.g., economic, verbal) are distinct and do not negate the progress in reducing physical harm.

Institutions like government and law, though sometimes employing necessary or deterrent violence, are crucial for maintaining order and preventing greater anarchy.

Freud's concept of a 'death wish' or inherent destructive drive is less compelling than the idea that certain impulses are situationally triggered and can be inhibited by social and psychological mechanisms.

Factors contributing to reduced violence include the growth of government, trade, education, cosmopolitanism, and the empowerment of women.

THE DECLINE OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE

Steven Pinker presents a counterintuitive argument that, contrary to common perception fueled by media, global violence has significantly declined throughout history. He backs this thesis with data, showing that rates of war and homicide have dramatically decreased. This decline is not merely a recent phenomenon but a long-term trend observable over centuries, with modern individuals facing a substantially lower risk of dying violently compared to their historical counterparts. Even a cursory look at historical trends, such as the near-elimination of wars between developed nations since 1945, supports this assertion, challenging the notion that civilization is perpetually on a downward spiral.

DISTINGUISHING PHYSICAL FROM METAPHORICAL VIOLENCE

Pinker clarifies that his analysis focuses specifically on physical violence, differentiating it from metaphorical uses of the term, such as 'economic violence' or 'verbal violence.' While acknowledging that interpersonal conflicts and harsh words still exist, he argues that equating these with physical atrocities like murder, rape, or war is unhelpful. This distinction is crucial because the significant reduction in physical harm represents genuine progress, even if certain forms of conflict or discomfort persist in less lethal ways. The focus remains on quantifyable acts of physical aggression and their historical diminishment.

THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONS AND LEGITIMATE FORCE

The discussion explores the necessity of institutions, particularly government, in managing violence. Drawing on thinkers like Hobbes and Weber, Pinker acknowledges that governments possess a monopoly on the legitimate use of force to prevent anarchy and deter greater violence. Practices like policing and incarceration, while forms of violence, are presented as necessary evils to maintain order when norms against violence are insufficient. The ideal scenario involves the internalization of these norms, reducing the need for the state's coercive power, a process he likens to effective deterrence in international relations where mutual dependency and common interests reduce the likelihood of conflict.

CHALLENGING PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS FOR VIOLENCE

Pinker critiques some psychological theories, particularly Freud's concept of a 'death wish,' as less empirically supported explanations for violence. He suggests that aggressive impulses are not a constant, underlying urge that needs periodic release but are often situationally triggered, akin to reflexes like shivering. This perspective implies that violence is not an inherent, species-wide drive but rather a response to specific circumstances, which can be mitigated by social conditions and the development of self-control, a concept he links to ego development and delaying gratification.

PROGRESS AND POTENTIAL PITFALLS

While optimistic about the long-term decline of violence, Pinker cautions against complacency. He views progress not as a guaranteed march towards utopia but as a continual 'chipping away' at violence rates, with residual violence likely to persist. He identifies several pacifying forces, including good governance, global trade, education, cosmopolitanism, and the empowerment of women, as key drivers of this trend. However, he stresses the need for constant vigilance and institutional maintenance to prevent backsliding, drawing analogies to maintaining one's health or home.

ADDRESSING RESOURCE SCARCITY AND POPULATION GROWTH

Pinker challenges the notion that population growth and resource scarcity are primary drivers of violence. He argues that densely populated areas are often peaceful, while sparsely populated regions can be violent, suggesting that crowding itself is not a direct cause. Furthermore, he contends that in contemporary economies, wealth and prosperity are less about raw materials and more about intelligent combination and cooperation. While acknowledging the importance of addressing issues like climate change and water shortages due to their potential for human suffering, he maintains that organized armed conflict is not an inevitable consequence.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Organizations

●Books

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Strategies for Reducing Violence

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Treat violence as an empirical problem to be documented, understood, and solved.

Support good governance that prevents anarchy and tyranny.

Promote commerce, trade, and economic interdependence between nations.

Invest in education and increase literacy rates.

Foster cosmopolitanism by mixing people and ideas to reduce demonization.

Empower women, as societies with greater female power tend to have less violence.

Recognize the human costs of war through reporting and education.

Be vigilant and maintain institutions that prevent backsliding into violence.

Focus on data and factual records to identify and implement effective violence reduction strategies.

Avoid This

Rely solely on moralizing, catastrophizing, or dogma to address violence.

Assume that scarcity of resources inherently leads to war.

Underestimate the impact of societal changes (like those in the 1960s) that can reverse trends in violence reduction.

Dismiss the possibility of progress in reducing violence based on current events or abstract theories.

Overestimate the immediate threat of terrorism to the point of disproportionate reactions.

Consider violence a necessary or inherent part of human nature that cannot be significantly reduced.

Common Questions

Yes, statistics show a significant long-term decline in various forms of violence, including war and homicide rates, since the Middle Ages. News media often focus on negative events, creating a skewed perception.

Topics

History Of Violence Homicide Rates Hobbes Civilizing Process State Violence

Mentioned in this video

personNorbert Elias

Sociologist who wrote 'The Civilizing Process', arguing for the strengthening of the ego and self-control contributing to reduced violence.

personJoshua Goldstein

Author of 'Winning the War on War', mentioned for his observation of a decreasing list of ongoing wars.

bookThe Civilizing Process

Norbert Elias's work positing that the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern era involved increased self-control and a reduction in violence.

bookWinning the War on War

A book by Joshua Goldstein noted for observing a shrinking list of ongoing wars over time.

personThe Iceman

A 5,000-year-old mummy found in the Alps, exhibiting signs of violence such as an embedded arrowhead and blood on his dagger.

personSamuel Pepys

A historical diarist who wrote about witnessing a public execution involving drawing and quartering.

personJacques Derrida

Philosopher whose work on 'the violence of the law' was referenced in the context of state-sanctioned violence.

conceptEuropean Enlightenment

A historical period preceded by increased literacy and the availability of printed materials, which fostered intellectual discourse and societal change.

personThomas Hobbes

Philosopher whose ideas on the state of nature and the need for a Leviathan to prevent anarchy and violence were discussed.

bookLeviathan

Thomas Hobbes's seminal work on political philosophy, advocating for a sovereign authority to prevent the chaos of the state of nature.

conceptThanatos

Freud's theory of the death drive, a hypothetical instinct towards destruction of the self and others.

bookThe End of History and the Last Man

Francis Fukuyama's influential book proposing that the progression of human history would culminate in liberal democracy.