Conversations with Tyler cover image

Steven Pinker on Language, Reason, and the Future of Violence (Live at Mason)

Conversations with Tyler

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Language Is an Inherent Part of What Makes Us Unusual

Language was never designed acommittee. It emerged because millions of people had ideas that they struggled to express. We developed language because we had ideas that existed prior to our being able to articulate them, for which we coined words. And languages, of course, are always continuing that cycle. Our language is different from the language of the founders or shakes pere. So i think warf went too far, but there's no doubt that language is an inherent part of what makes us unusual as a species and unique. Next question. Do you agree with the theory of group selection?

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