Is the mind a blank slate? Are we molded by our environment: a blank tablet simply inscribed by our culture and upbringing? Not according to Steven Pinker. In his book entitled ‘The Blank Slate’ he provides a gripping argument against the tabula rasa models in social science. Pinker embarks upon the difficult task of demolishing the myths surrounding human behavior through the exploration of its history, and examining the moral, emotional and political factors of human nature in modern life. Throughout
Review of Pinker, S. (2003). The Blank Slate: A Modern Denial of Human Nature, Penguin, London. (Word Count: 1,500) There is no debate as ancient, well known or as controversial in the fields of philosophy, psychology, and science, as that of nature versus nurture. It can be assumed through pure common sense that anyone in this day and age would have already come to the conclusion that human development requires, and is influenced by, the ineraction of both. However, Steven Pinker welcomes the opportunity
Stanley Milgram, Philip Zimbardo and Steven Pinker who all have theories that violence is a basic part of human nature. Scientist Stanley Milgram found that 65% of experiment participants would inflict pain in the name of obedience. Similarly, Philip Zimbardo conducted an experiment in Stanford University, which resulted in an early shut down due to the abuse of authority and high levels of violence and aggression. Steven Pinker, the author of The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature, proposes