Throughout human history we’ve recorded shifts that have made a profound effect the conditions of our societies, economies and cultures, the most notable being the Age of Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, and now the Information or Digital Age. According to Steven Pinker, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, another shift that has shaped human society is the Humanitarian Revolution, which is a historical decline in violence around the world that has occurred since the Renaissance.
Through widespread efforts to promote literacy, people are now able to consume literature, non-fiction, and journalism, and therefore can empathize and understand the lives of others. The result? A decrease in cruel natures and intentions among groups and individuals.
Pinker explained the details behind the Humanitarian Revolution at the Singularity Summit last weekend.
Steven Pinker: Literacy Breeds Empathy, Reduces Violence from Singularity Institute on FORA.tv
