Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress

If it seems to you that the world is heading towards an abyss, take a look around. People are now living longer, healthier, freer and happier than ever before. In a breathtaking survey of the state of humanity in the third millennium, psychologist and science communicator Steven Pinker urges us to step back from the sensational headlines and catastrophic predictions that so cleverly play on the cognitive biases inherent in our thinking. Instead, he proposes turning to numbers and, using seven dozen astounding graphs, demonstrates the unprecedented progress not only of the West, but of the whole world in all areas, from health and prosperity to security, peace and human rights. This progress is not accidental or the result of outside forces. This is a gift to the modern world from the figures of the Enlightenment, who were the first to think that knowledge can be used in the name of the prosperity of all mankind. The ideas of the Enlightenment are not at all naive dreams. On the contrary, they worked - and this is an indisputable fact. Yet right now, these ideas are in particular need of our defense, as they stand up to the characteristic flaws of human nature-tribalism, authoritarianism, the demonization of outsiders, and magical thinking-that modern demagogues so enjoy exploiting. Yes, the problems facing humanity are enormous, but all of them can be solved if, continuing the work of Enlightenment, we use reason for this, trust science and are guided by the ideals of humanism.