By Z on Saturday, October 08, 2011 - 12:13 pm: Edit PostThe Better Angels Of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined
www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/books/review/the-better-angels-of-our-nature-by-steve n-pinker-book-review.html?ref=books
By Zed on Sunday, October 23, 2011 - 11:57 am: Edit PostWhat do SMARTS & the "Increase in Intelligence" have to do with the reduction in VIOLENCE against our fellow beings?
"As we get smarter, we try to think up better ways of getting everyone to turn their swords into plowshares at the same time...Human life has become more precious than it used to be."
(Steven Pinker)
He (Pinker) examines body counts, rapes, sacrifice and slavery in the Bible, using an estimate of 1.2 million deaths detailed in the Old Testament. He describes forms of torture used in the Middle Ages and even notes the nastiness behind early day fairy tales, such as the evil queen's four gruesome methods for killing Snow White along with a desire to eat her lungs and liver.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/22/world-less-violent-stats_n_1026723.html