--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never argued that humans are…" description: "\"I've never argued that humans are massively hot-wired. What I was trying to point out was that you can't understand how we learn unless you identify th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steven-pinker-526_argued_i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massiv_16399.jpg" --- # I've never argued that humans are massively hot-wired… ![“I've never argued that humans are massively hot-wired. What I was trying to point out was that you can't understand how we learn unless you identify the learning mechanisms. And these have some genetic basis.” quote by Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steven-pinker-526_argued_i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massiv_16399.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steven-pinker-526_argued_i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massiv_16399.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steven-pinker-526_argued_i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massiv_16399.jpg) > “I've never argued that humans are massively hot-wired. What I was trying to point out was that you can't understand how we learn unless you identify the learning mechanisms. And these have some genetic basis.” [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding learning requires recognizing its underlying mechanisms, which are rooted in genetics. **In simple terms:** Learning mechanisms are genetically based. Key Takeaway Identify biological foundations of learning. Themes cognitive science genetics learning theory nature vs nurture neuroscience Mood analytical thoughtful Type theoretical explanatory When to use this quote - educational research - AI model design - behavioral therapy - public policy on education - parental guidance Key Concepts genetic basis of cognition mechanistic explanation developmental psychology Practical Applications - designing curricula that align with innate learning processes - informing AI algorithms with biological learning principles Questions to Reflect On - How do genetic factors shape individual learning styles? - What implications does this have for educational equity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argued/) [Basis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basis/) [Genetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genetic/) [Hot Wired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hot-wired-383313/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Identify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identify/) [Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Learning Mechanisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-mechanisms-383314/) [Massively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massively/) [Mechanisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanisms/) [Mechanisms Genetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanisms-genetic-383316/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/out/) [Point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point/) [Some](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/some/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand/) [Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless/) [Wired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wired/) [Wired Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wired-trying-383315/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [We were never motorheads. We knew fast cars. We knew how to siphon gas - me - charge the battery when it was down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-were-never-motorheads-we-knew-fast-cars-we-knew-how-to-siphon-gas/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I'm not massively fond of right-wing nutters or war criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/i-m-not-massively-fond-of-right-wing-nutters-or-war-criminals/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [I can be a bit impatient sometimes. If I'm really focusing on something, I can expect everybody to move at the same pace, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-coe/i-can-be-a-bit-impatient-sometimes-if-i-m-really-focusing-on/) [Sebastian Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-coe/) > [I'm not a massive fan of 3D. I've seen some good 3D, and I've seen quite a lot of bad 3D. I think if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-m-not-a-massive-fan-of-3d-i-ve-seen-some-good-3d-and-i-ve-seen/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [Growing up, when I was at live shows, I was always hoping someone would come out on stage and say, 'The guitarist is sick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bay/growing-up-when-i-was-at-live-shows-i-was-always-hoping-someone-would/) [James Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bay/) > [I'm massively into my fitness goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-francis/i-m-massively-into-my-fitness-goals/) [Ben Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-francis/) > [When all is said and done, it looks like the Palestinians have been massively robbed and abused, and are engaged in a desperate struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/when-all-is-said-and-done-it-looks-like-the-palestinians-have-been/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [I would probably work with Drake as he is massively inspirational to me as a writer as well as an artist. If not him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-maynard/i-would-probably-work-with-drake-as-he-is-massively-inspirational-to/) [Conor Maynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-maynard/) > [I don't consider my life to be boring at all. I consider my life to be massively fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-plumb/i-don-t-consider-my-life-to-be-boring-at-all-i-consider-my-life-to-be/) [Eve Plumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-plumb/) > [The way we experience history and time in all its forms shifted quite massively between 1989 and 2001 - to the point where contrivances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/the-way-we-experience-history-and-time-in-all-its-forms-shifted-quite/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [I've always been massively aware of clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-anderson/i-ve-always-been-massively-aware-of-clothing/) [Jonathan Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-anderson/) > [If anti-Semitism is a variety of racism, it is a most peculiar variety, with many unique characteristics. In my view as a historian, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/if-anti-semitism-is-a-variety-of-racism-it-is-a-most-peculiar-variety/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [I've never felt massively satisfied from standing there while someone takes my photograph. It's never given me a thrill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dornan/i-ve-never-felt-massively-satisfied-from-standing-there-while-someone/) [Jamie Dornan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dornan/) > [I've never massively minded not being cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-donnelly/i-ve-never-massively-minded-not-being-cool/) [Declan Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-donnelly/) > [I've read everything that Isaac Asimov ever wrote, for a start. I'm massively into my fantasy genre, anything by R.A. Salvatore or David Gemmell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-ve-read-everything-that-isaac-asimov-ever-wrote-for-a-start-i-m/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) ## More by Steven Pinker > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Consistent style prevents presentation from getting in the way of content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/consistent-style-prevents-presentation-from-getting-in-the-way-of/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [The supposedly immaterial soul, we now know, can be bisected with a knife, altered by chemicals, started or stopped by electricity, and extinguished by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-supposedly-immaterial-soul-we-now-know-can-be-bisected-with-a/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [As many political writers have pointed out, commitment to political equality is not an empirical claim that people are clones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/as-many-political-writers-have-pointed-out-commitment-to-political/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Since violence is largely a male pastime, cultures that empower women tend to move away from the glorification of violence and are less likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/since-violence-is-largely-a-male-pastime-cultures-that-empower-women/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When it comes to explaining human thought and behavior, the possibility that heredity plays any role at all still has the power to shock.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/when-it-comes-to-explaining-human-thought-and-behavior-the/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Morality is not just any old topic in psychology but close to our conception of the meaning of life. Moral goodness is what gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/morality-is-not-just-any-old-topic-in-psychology-but-close-to-our/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“The biblical story of the binding of Isaac shows that human sacrifice was far from unthinkable in the 1st millennium BCE. The Israelites boasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-biblical-story-of-the-binding-of-isaac-shows-that-human-sacrifice/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Part of the bargain of being alive is that one takes a chance at dying a premature or painful death, be it from violence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/part-of-the-bargain-of-being-alive-is-that-one-takes-a-chance-at/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [In fact, without a specification of a creature's goals, the very idea of intelligence is meaningless. A toadstool could be given a genius award…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/in-fact-without-a-specification-of-a-creature-s-goals-the-very-idea/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“The obvious cure for the tragic shortcomings of human intuition in a high-tech world is education. And this offers priorities for educational policy: to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-obvious-cure-for-the-tragic-shortcomings-of-human-intuition-in-a/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [If you look in general at people who live in anarchy, they have quite high rates of death from either homicide or warfare or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/if-you-look-in-general-at-people-who-live-in-anarchy-they-have-quite/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“In some eras, self-control defines the paragon of a decent person: a grown-up, a person of dignity, a lady or a gentleman, a mensch.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/in-some-eras-self-control-defines-the-paragon-of-a-decent-person-a/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Knowledge is a continuous fabric, in which ideas are connected to other ideas. Reason-free zones, in which people can assert arbitrary beliefs safe from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/knowledge-is-a-continuous-fabric-in-which-ideas-are-connected-to/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Gossip is certainly one of the things that language is useful for, because it's always handy to know who needs a favor, who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/gossip-is-certainly-one-of-the-things-that-language-is-useful-for/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) [Explore all 495 Steven Pinker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) ## More Argued quotes > [“I argued against the view that the only obligation we have to strangers is to avoid harming them; but even if we were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-argued-against-the-view-that-the-only-obligation-we-have-to/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [God, Bones, you must have argued yourself blue in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/god-bones-you-must-have-argued-yourself-blue-in-the-face/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Since I came to the World Bank in 2007, I have argued that we must 'modernize multilateralism.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-zoellick/since-i-came-to-the-world-bank-in-2007-i-have-argued-that-we-must/) [Robert Zoellick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-zoellick/) > [Anne is very forgiving. She doesn't care about money, being rich, or clothes. We never argued about finances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stiller/anne-is-very-forgiving-she-doesn-t-care-about-money-being-rich-or/) [Jerry Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stiller/) > [“argued for an hour on the telephone. now looking at pictures of carbs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-boyle/argued-for-an-hour-on-the-telephone-now-looking-at-pictures-of-carbs/) [Megan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-boyle/) > [I have argued flying saucers with lots of people. I was interested in possible. They do not appreciate that the problem is not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-have-argued-flying-saucers-with-lots-of-people-i-was-interested-in/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Have you ever argued with your boyfriend/girlfriend over little things? It starts off over a little thing & then it turns into this big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilio-vasquez/have-you-ever-argued-with-your-boyfriend-girlfriend-over-little/) [Emilio Vasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilio-vasquez/) > [The outstanding truths of life, the great and unquestioned phenomena of society, are not to be argued away as myths and vagaries when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-n-cardozo/the-outstanding-truths-of-life-the-great-and-unquestioned-phenomena/) [Benjamin N. Cardozo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-n-cardozo/) > [I'm always asked if the songs that I write are therapeutic, and my answer is a quick no. In fact, it could be argued…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-m-always-asked-if-the-songs-that-i-write-are-therapeutic-and-my/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [In the summer of 2009, I modestly predicted that most major news organisations would be charging for content within 12 months. Charging, I argued,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-barber/in-the-summer-of-2009-i-modestly-predicted-that-most-major-news/) [Lionel Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-barber/) > [Advertising and content have always been bound together - in print, on television, and on the web. Sure, you can skip the ad -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/advertising-and-content-have-always-been-bound-together-in-print-on/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [I was offered and accepted a part in 'A Few Best Men,' and then the Australian actor's union argued that there were too many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-clarke/i-was-offered-and-accepted-a-part-in-a-few-best-men-and-then-the/) [Noel Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-clarke/) > [A peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will likely depend to a great extent on the economic development of a future Palestinian state. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-bronfman-sr/a-peaceful-resolution-to-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict-will-likely/) [Edgar Bronfman, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-bronfman-sr/) > [A man who is furnished with arguments from the mint, will convince his antagonist much sooner than one who draws them from reason and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/a-man-who-is-furnished-with-arguments-from-the-mint-will-convince-his/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [The Justices are currently considering a case, argued last month, which seeks to extend the writ of habeas corpus to al Qaeda and Taliban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/the-justices-are-currently-considering-a-case-argued-last-month-which/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) [Browse all 62 Argued quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argued/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never argued that humans are massively hot-wired. What I was trying to point out was that you can't understand how we learn unless you identify the learning mechanisms. And these have some genetic basis.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Pinker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massively-hot-wired-what-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Argued" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massively-hot-wired-what-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steven-pinker-526_argued_i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massiv_16399.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steven-pinker-526_argued_i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massiv_16399.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d57/steven-pinker-526_argued_i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massiv_16399.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've never argued that humans are massively hot-wired. What I was trying to point out was that you can't…” — Steven Pinker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steven Pinker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've never argued that humans are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massively-hot-wired-what-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/i-ve-never-argued-that-humans-are-massively-hot-wired-what-i-was/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```