Evolution Quote by Steven Pinker
““Some people think that evolutionary psychology claims to have discovered that human nature is selfish and wicked. But they are flattering the researchers and anyone who would claim to have discovered the opposite.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker, 2011
The quote challenges the misconception that evolutionary psychology says humans are inherently selfish, noting that such a view misrepresents the field’s findings.
In simple terms: Evolutionary psychology does not claim humans are purely selfish.
Key Takeaway
Recognize nuance in scientific claims.
Themes
misconception
human nature
science communication
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
explanatory
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- public policy
- education
- media reporting
Key Concepts
evolutionary psychology
ethical theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does framing affect public perception of science?
- What evidence counters the “selfish human” narrative?
A Different Perspective
Some argue the quote oversimplifies complex research findings.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
