Steven Pinker argues that our pessimism about today's world is profoundly wrong

Steven Pinker argues that our pessimism about...

Up next

How to solve the world’s biggest problems with Natalie Cargill

To get a free copy of the Infectious Generosity book, visit ted.com/generosityWhat if the world’s biggest problems could be solved with just some simple math? Natalie Cargill, the founder of strategic giving consultancy Longview Philanthropy, works on finding funding for the most ...  Show more

How much happiness can 2 million USD buy? with Elizabeth Dunn

To get a free copy of the Infectious Generosity book, visit ted.com/generosity How much happiness could be gained if more people had access to wealth? Does the relationship between spending money and happiness change when people are in different economic classes? And if chosen ra ...  Show more

Recommended Episodes

Everyone is terrible
TEDx Shorts

Comedian Jo Firestone offers a blunt and funny reminder of why we should all cut ourselves— and others— some slack here and there. This talk was filmed at TEDxNewYork. All TEDx events are organized independently by volunteers in the spirit of TED's mission of ideas worth spreadin ...  Show more

Steven Pinker: AI in the Age of Reason
Lex Fridman Podcast

Steven Pinker is a professor at Harvard and before that was a professor at MIT. He is the author of many books, several of which have had a big impact on the way I see the world for the better. In particular, The Better Angels of Our Nature and Enlightenment Now have instilled in ...  Show more

How we can challenge our own negativity bias
TEDx Shorts

Bobby Duffy explains how our brain’s negativity bias clouds our ability to assess information.This talk was filmed at TEDxLiverpool. All TEDx events are organized independently by volunteers in the spirit of TED's mission of ideas worth spreading. To learn more about TEDxSHORTS, ...  Show more

Climate change and the challenge of long-term thinking
TEDx Shorts

Using the story of Hurricane Sandy’s effect on New Yorks as an example, Scientist and professor Adam Sobel shows how bridging science with storytelling is a key to enabling more action to stop climate change. This talk was filmed at TEDxBroadway. All TEDx events are organized ind ...  Show more