Date of Birth: September 18, 1954
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Biography
Steven Pinker is a renowned Canadian-American cognitive psychologist, linguist, and popular science author. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he has significantly contributed to the fields of visual cognition and psycholinguistics. Pinker is known for his advocacy of evolutionary psychology and the computational theory of mind. He has published several influential books, including “The Language Instinct,” “How the Mind Works,” “The Blank Slate,” “The Better Angels of Our Nature,” and “Enlightenment Now.” Pinker earned his BA in psychology from McGill University in 1976 and his PhD in experimental psychology from Harvard University in 1979. He has held academic positions at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, where he is currently the Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Pinker’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including being named in Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2004. He is also a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and has received several honorary doctorates.
5 Interesting Facts about Steven Pinker
1. Steven Pinker has been a vocal advocate for the idea that human violence has declined over time, a thesis central to his book “The Better Angels of Our Nature.”
2. Pinker was married to philosopher and novelist Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, who is also a prominent intellectual figure.
3. He has served on the Usage Panel of the American Heritage Dictionary since 1987.
4. Pinker is a proponent of scientific skepticism and secular humanism, frequently engaging in public debates on these topics.
5. He has been awarded numerous honorary degrees from institutions such as the University of Newcastle, Université du Québec, and the University of Toronto.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Steven Pinker
1. “Language is a window into human nature, and words are the bricks and mortar of our shared reality.”
2. “The art of framing a question must be mastered before we can answer it.”
3. “Human nature is complex. Even if we do have inclinations toward violence, we also have inclination to empathy, to cooperation, to self-control.”
4. “People can be aware of their own biases, but it’s only through collective rationality that we can correct for them.”
5. “We will never have a perfect world, but it’s not romantic or naive to work toward a better one.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Steven Pinker’s highest net worth is estimated to be around $7 million.
Children
Steven Pinker does not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Steven Pinker’s Official Website](https://stevenpinker.com/
2. [Steven Pinker at Harvard University](https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/steven-pinker
3. [Steven Pinker’s TED Talks](https://www.ted.com/speakers/steven_pinker
4. [Steven Pinker’s Goodreads Author Page](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10757.Steven_Pinker
5. [Steven Pinker’s Profile on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Pinker
