Buddhism Quote by Steven Pinker
““According to Howard, “this dialectic between Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment, between the individual and the tribe, was to pervade, and to a large extent shape, the history of Europe throughout the nineteenth century, and of the world the century after that.”109””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Better Angels of Our Nature, 2011
The tension between Enlightenment rationalism and tribal impulses shaped European and global history in the 19th and 20th centuries.
In simple terms: Conflicting ideas shaped modern history.
Key Takeaway
Balance reason with community values.
Themes
history
philosophy
culture
conflict
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- political debates
- social movements
- education curricula
Key Concepts
Enlightenment
tribalism
dialectic
Questions to Reflect On
- How do modern societies reconcile these forces?
- What examples show this tension today?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on conflict can ignore cooperation.
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