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Rutger Bregman on Human Nature and Hope

Jul 2, 2021

Rutger Bregman, a prominent historian and author known for his insightful works on human nature, dives deep into the themes of his book, Humankind: A Hopeful History. He discusses the duality of humanity, challenging the cynical view of human nature by advocating that we should assume the best in people. Bregman addresses the influence of compassion over empathy and explores how positive expectations can transform behavior. He emphasizes the importance of trust and collaboration for societal progress, urging a hopeful perspective on our inherent goodness.

53:56

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Rutger Bregman

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

Exploring Human Nature: The Shift from Cynicism to Hope

4min

The Duality of Human Nature

24min

The Goodness of Humanity

5min

The Power of Expectations

8min

Empathy vs. Compassion: A Call for Rational Support

4min

Empathy, Compassion, and the Human Struggle

7min

The Interconnection of Personal Change and Social Transformation

4min

Rutger Bregman is one of Europe’s most prominent young thinkers. A historian and author, Rutger has published several books on history, philosophy, and economics. His book, History of Progress, was awarded the Belgian Liberales Prize for best nonfiction book of 2013.

In this episode, Eric and Rutger discuss his book Humankind: A Hopeful History, where they delve into the scientific, historical, and philosophical components of human nature.

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In This Interview, Rutger Bregman and I Discuss Human Nature, Hope, and …

His book, Humankind: A Hopeful History
Asking the scientific questions and the philosophical questions
The opposing theories of basic human nature
Evolutionary biology and the survival of the friendliest
Collective intelligence is what makes humans special
The paradox of humans being the kindest and also the cruelest species
His rules for a realistic view of human nature: when in doubt, assume the best
The broken systems that are created for the small percentage rather than the largest percentage of people
Pygmalion effect is the power of expectations; we become what we think we will become
Important distinctions between empathy and compassion
Understanding that changing the world begins with changing ourselves

Rutger Bregman Links:

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If you enjoyed this conversation with Rutger Bregman on Human Nature and Hope, you might also enjoy these other episodes:

Deep Transformation with Spring Washam

How our Perception Creates Reality with John Perkins

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