The Blank Slate
Why should I read The Blank Slate
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Blank Slate breaks down, and goes over the age old question.
Nurture versus nature. Are we all born as blank slates, or do we have personality traits from birth?
This book will also break down why imperfections shouldn’t be such a big deal.
As well as why genetics, have been at the center of political and religious issues over the years.
Faulty theories about human nature
John Locke is associated with the blank slate theory
This theory basically says, that we are born with a blank slate, and that we are shaped by our environment.
Pinker argues that this theory is faulty.
The second theory is the Noble Savage theory.
This theory is associated with Jean-Jacques Rousseau. This theory suggests that humans are inherently selfless, and peaceful.
Again Pinker argues that this theory is flawed.
The last theory is from Renes Descartes, and it is called the Ghost in the machine.
He believed that the human mind and body were two separate entities.
All of the above I am familiar with, and through television, and media we have all seen one of these theories in play.
- The blank slate theory is known as empiricism
- The Noble Savage theory is known as romanticism
- The Ghost in The Machine theory is known as dualism
Are cultural behaviors the result of genetics and evolution
Social scientist loved the blank slate theory during the 20th century, because it meant people weren’t born to be sexist or racist.
Instead those bad traits were viewed as learned (Which I believe people are indoctrinated into hatred, and not born with it).
Pinker basically argues that because we are born, with the ability to understand language, we can be born racist as well. What?
This delves into the area of reading or better understanding what someone thinks, because when its disseminated to the masses, others now believe it as well.
However I believe humans are highly programmable, as seen through advertising, and the media.
The Bridge between the physical world and the mind
Cognitive science and behavioral genetics are two ways scientist are working to bridge the gap.
This book is Gladwellian at its finest, meaning things get a little or a lot on the abstract side.
Examples include believing that twins will genetically inherit traits that cause them to prefer a cigarette brand, and that no environmental stimuli is responsible. What?
While I can agree that human mind is good at categorizing things, without the conditioning at home, and from social media, and the media, racism wouldn’t exist, this book suggest that its all genetic and people are born this way. What?
The Three Laws of Behavioral genetics
Genes, parenting, and a unique environment.
All of the above I would argue fall under the category of programming and not genetics.
Other books By Steven Pinker
My review of The Blank Slate| Amazon link
My review of Enlightenment Now | Amazon link
My review of The Stuff of Thought | Amazon link
My review of The language instinct | Amazon link
My review of The Better Angels of our nature | Amazon link
My review of The sense of style | Amazon link
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Xavier Savage
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I do not shape muscle. I shape structure. The person you become is the person you construct.
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