3min chapter

Intelligence Squared cover image

Steven Pinker and David Runciman on Optimism, Enlightenment and Progress PART 1

Intelligence Squared

CHAPTER

The Negative Bias

Pessimism doesn't consist of opening your eyes, seeing the problems around you and wanting to solve them. Norman Borlaug is credited with saving a billion lives by the development of vigorous hybrids. He recognized that there was massive hunger and famine in insufficient calories. That's not pessimism. Bill Gates would be an example. And he is someone who is well aware of the data that progress is possible.

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