Ian Channing reviewed The blank slate by Steven Pinker
Review of 'The blank slate' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Phenomenal book, describes who we are perfectly
English language
Published July 23, 2003
The Blank Slate
4 stars
(25 reviews)
In The Blank Slate, Steven Pinker, one of the world's leading experts on language and the mind, explores the idea of human nature and its moral, emotional, and political colorings. With characteristic wit, lucidity, and insight, Pinker argues that the dogma that the mind has no innate traits-a doctrine held by many intellectuals during the past century-denies our common humanity and our individual preferences, replaces objective analyses of social problems with feel-good slogans, and distorts our understanding of politics, violence, parenting, and the arts. Injecting calm and rationality into debates that are notorious for ax-grinding and mud-slinging, Pinker shows the importance of an honest acknowledgment of human nature based on science and common sense.
WiFlag reviewed The blank slate by Steven Pinker
Review of 'The blank slate' on 'GoodReads'
5 stars
An eye opening challenge to notions that you hold so deeply in your unconscious that you don't even realize they're there. Extremely clearly explained and very compelling.
Zivan reviewed The blank slate by Steven Pinker
Review of 'The blank slate' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I'm very much in the Nazi fearing camp that prefers not to give credence to any science laming to find innate human tendencies in genetics. Exactly for the kind of discrimination that can result from it.
I have learned allot from The Blank Slate about the folly of ignoring the evidence in the name of Ideology even if it is my kind of Ideology.
I've also learned that the blank slate position is also the tool of totalitarian regimes.
I still think that any policy based on what we thing human nature is should be taken with a heap of salt, but ignoring human nature can be as detrimental as well and lead to policies that are disconnected from reality.
brunosan reviewed The blank slate by Steven Pinker
Review of 'The blank slate' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
This is one of those "inflated" books.
Great idea, but he could have said the same in a third of the pages. That´s the reason it took me months, even years to read. I start reading it, after a while I start to jump paragraphs, then pages and then I leave it for a few months...
Not sure If I´d recommend it, or better get the TED talk summary :)
