Experts
Steven Pinker
Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
In this selection from his Floating University lecture, Professor Steven Pinker deduces the nature of language acquisition by examining the generative use of grammar in children. Read More
They both experiment with language, recombining words and phrases in novel ways. Steven Pinker explains how his studies in childhood linguistics try to shed light on linguistic creativity in general. Read More
Psychologist Steven Pinker studies the interface between language and human computation, which he argues is the key to understanding human nature. Read More
The experimental psychologist discusses the quest for understanding what makes us tick. Read More
The experimental psychologist examines himself. Read More
The experimental psychologist says not all problems have to have a moralistic solution. Read More
Steven Pinker deconstructs the evolution of speech. Read More
“You’re kind of unclear as to why this Leviathan would just be kind of a fascist dictator, as if that would be better than life in the state of anarchy.” Read More
The experimental psychologist confronts the contradictions of moralists. Read More
Steven Pinker's personal philosophy is based on reason. Read More
Evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker's strangely optimistic forecast. Read More
Leaders can’t say that there’s something uniquely special about the United States because it’s the United States, Read More
Pinker is a cautious optimist. Read More
"How did we get here?" Read More
It's important for universities to embrace new ideas. Read More
Steven Pinker see our greatest challenges as overcoming the obstacles to secular enlightenment in many parts of the world. Read More
Synthesizing ideas really depends on having a universe of ideas to recombine in the first place, says Steven Pinker. Read More
Cracking the almighty verb. Read More
Why is language veiled? Read More
About Steven Pinker
Steven Pinker is Harvard College Professor and Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. Until 2003, he taught in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT. He conducts research on language and cognition, writes for publications such as the New York Times, Time, and The New Republic, and is the author of seven books, including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, Words and Rules, The Blank Slate, and most recently, The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature. Pinker was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2004. He was born in Montreal, Canada and educated at McGill University and Harvard.