Tгўbula Rasa - Steven Pinker Apr 2026

If our genes dictate our actions, can we be held responsible for them?

Pinker’s The Blank Slate is a plea for "honest science." He concludes that accepting a complex human nature doesn't lead to a darker world. Instead, by recognizing our innate limitations and capacities, we can build a more effective and compassionate society. We are not blank paper, but a rich, complex "sketch" that culture and experience continue to color. TГЎbula Rasa - Steven Pinker

Pinker draws on evolutionary psychology, genetics, and neuroscience to argue that many aspects of our personality, intelligence, and social behavior are "hard-wired." He points to twin studies—which show that identical twins reared apart are remarkably similar—as evidence that genes play a significant role in shaping who we are. For Pinker, the brain is not a general-purpose sponge but a complex system of "mental modules" designed by natural selection to solve specific survival problems. The Fear of Human Nature If our genes dictate our actions, can we

The belief that humans are naturally selfless and peaceful, and that greed or violence are purely products of corrupting social institutions. We are not blank paper, but a rich,