“Acceptance Speech” Frontiers of Knowledge Award 2023 in Humanities and Social Sciences

Acceptance speech by Steven Pinker, winner of the 2023 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Humanities and Social Sciences, who was honored alongside Peter Singer for their contributions to the study of rationality and ethics, respectively, and their influence on public debate. Pinker’s research in cognitive and evolutionary psychology has advanced our understanding of human nature and the role of reason, science and humanism as drivers of social and moral progress.

Pinker reviews his intellectual journey, from the study of language and the workings of the mind to his research on the historical decline of violence and improvements in living conditions. He argues that human progress is a demonstrable empirical phenomenon, although it is not guaranteed, and highlights the importance of cultivating rationality through tools such as logic, probability and the scientific method. He also de

Acceptance speech by Steven Pinker, winner of the 2023 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Humanities and Social Sciences, who was honored alongside Peter Singer for their contributions to the study of rationality and ethics, respectively, and their influence on public debate. Pinker’s research in cognitive and evolutionary psychology has advanced our understanding of human nature and the role of reason, science and humanism as drivers of social and moral progress.

Pinker reviews his intellectual journey, from the study of language and the workings of the mind to his research on the historical decline of violence and improvements in living conditions. He argues that human progress is a demonstrable empirical phenomenon, although it is not guaranteed, and highlights the importance of cultivating rationality through tools such as logic, probability and the scientific method. He also defends freedom of expression, criticism and open debate as essential principles for overcoming prejudice and advancing collective well-being.