Ideas worth spreading

Human nature and the blank slate

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Steven Pinker |

TED2003

• February 2003

Steven Pinker's book The Blank Slate argues that all humans are born with some innate traits. Here, Pinker talks about his thesis, and why some people found it incredibly upsetting.

Steven Pinker's book The Blank Slate argues that all humans are born with some innate traits. Here, Pinker talks about his thesis, and why some people found it incredibly upsetting.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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Steven Pinker

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Steven Pinker is a professor of cognitive science (the study of the human mind) who writes about language, mind and human nature.

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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.