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Technology

The Better Angels Of Our Nature

Connecticut Public Radio
Published October 20, 2011 at 11:18 AM EDT
Chion Wolf

http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Tucker/Where%20We%20Live%2010-20-2011.mp3

Yesterday more protestors were killed in Syria, Turkey bombed rebels in Iraq and the Greek protests turned violent...again.

The news looks pretty violent these days. But renowned psychologist Steven Pinker says that our ancestors were far more violent than we are today.

It is those stories of violence and mayhem that enter our homes on TV or even here on public radio. Those extraordinary stories get seared into our memory and we forget about the countless numbers of people who die of old age every day.

Pinker’s new book is called “The Better Angels of our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined” and he joins us to discuss his book and research.

Are we safer today than our ancestors were? Is the threat of nuclear weapons provoking violence or promoting peace? 
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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Protect Connecticut Public

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Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.