TED Talks Daily The hidden logic of human harmony | Steven Pinker
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Aug 11, 2025 
Steven Pinker, an experimental cognitive scientist, delves into the hidden logic of human harmony and societal norms. He reveals how common knowledge is crucial for everything from everyday interactions to global diplomacy. With engaging anecdotes, he discusses why autocrats fear blank signs and the pitfalls of vocalizing certain thoughts. Pinker highlights the delicate balance in relationships and warns of the dangers when shared norms begin to wobble. His insights remind us how intricate and vital our social connections truly are.
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Publicness Topples Authority
- The child's declaration made private knowledge into shared knowledge and toppled deference.
- Common knowledge means everyone knows that everyone knows ad infinitum.
Coordination Puzzle In Manhattan
- Separated lovers can't rely on private guesses to meet; recursive guessing fails.
- Only common knowledge like a call or focal point guarantees coordination.
Language Evolved To Signal Publicly
- Language may have evolved to create public signals that solve coordination problems.
- Conspicuous focal points substitute for infinite mutual beliefs.
