Are Humans Born Good Or Bad?
The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature
by Steven Pinker
Psychology
TL;DR
This book is basically a reality check for anyone who thinks humans are just blank canvases waiting for society to paint on them. Pinker drops the mic, arguing that our brains come pre-wired with a bunch of instincts, biases, and tendencies. So, if you're wondering why people act the way they do, or why some social experiments go sideways, it's probably because we're not just empty vessels. It's about understanding our inherent human nature to build better systems, rather than pretending we can just reprogram everyone from scratch. Basically, stop fighting biology, fam.
Action Items
Today, notice something you're naturally good at or enjoy doing, and spend 15 minutes leaning into that 'pre-set' skill instead of forcing yourself to do something you hate.
When you see someone acting like a jerk today, instead of just blaming 'society,' consider that maybe, just maybe, some of that jerkiness is part of the human package. Don't excuse it, just acknowledge it.
Next time you're feeling super tired or moody, instead of just 'pushing through,' ask yourself if your brain (the actual organ) needs something: more sleep, food, water, or a break. Treat your brain like the physical thing it is.
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Key Chapter
Chapter - The Empty Hard Drive: Why You're Not a Blank Slate
This chapter absolutely wrecks the idea that we're born as empty hard drives, ready for society to install whatever apps it wants. Pinker's like, 'Nah, fam, your brain comes with some serious pre-installed software.' It means a lot of our basic drives, emotions, and even how we learn are baked into our biology. Understanding this isn't about saying 'destiny,' but about realizing why some social policies flop or why people keep doing dumb stuff despite 'education.' It's about working with our nature, not against it, to build a world that actually makes sense for humans, instead of trying to force us into some utopian mold we're just not built for. Embrace the pre-sets!
Key Methods and Approaches
Your Brain's Not Play-Doh
(AKA: The Blank Slate Fallacy Debunking)
Description:
Recognizing that humans aren't born as empty vessels. We come with innate predispositions, instincts, and cognitive structures.
Explanation:
Imagine your brain isn't a fresh Play-Doh tub you can mold into anything. It's more like a LEGO set that already has some pieces clicked together, and you can only build certain things with it. Trying to make a spaceship out of a pre-built castle is gonna be a struggle. Society often tries to force us into shapes we're not naturally inclined for, leading to frustration and failure.
Examples:
Trying to make everyone equally good at math or art, ignoring natural aptitudes.
Believing that all aggression is learned, when some might be an evolutionary leftover.
Designing educational systems that ignore how kids naturally learn or their attention spans.
Expecting people to be perfectly rational and selfless in economic models.
Today's Action:
Today, notice something you're naturally good at or enjoy doing, and spend 15 minutes leaning into that 'pre-set' skill instead of forcing yourself to do something you hate.
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