‘My20-year-old self wouldbesurprised I’mthrice-married and childless’

the little-known yetmomentous factthatviolence is in historical decline; defined apolitical goal (to identify the causesofour progressand intensify them); and challengedmetotell aparticularly complex story in a compelling way. What do youfind most irritating in otherpeople? Bickering.The costofconflict –in trust and long-term reciprocity –isalmost always greater than whatever’sbeing fought over. If your 20-year-old self could see younow,whatwouldhethink? He’dbesurprisedthatI’m thrice- marriedand childless, relievedthat Ilandedatenuredprofessorship, anddelighted that Icrossedover into writing forawideaudience. Which objectthatyou’velostdo youwish youstillhad? Effortlessmemory fordetails. What is thegreatest challengeofour time? The greatest practical challenge INVENTORY ,EXPERIMENTALPSYCHOLOGIST is avoiding catastrophicclimate change. The greatest moral and political challengeisdefending the Enlightenment idealsofreason, Steven Pinker,63, is Johnstone theory from Joan Bresnan,and beautiful in aboxyBauhaus ,humanismand progress. Family professor in the psycholinguistics(andprose style) way,and it makes photography Do youbelieve in anafterlife? departmentofpsychologyat from Roger Brown. But I’mnot asensuous experience. No.The mind depends entirelyon Harvard. He conducts research much of amentee:I’vealways What ambitionsdoyoustill have? thebrain,which is indisputably on language and cognition. gathered ideas and methods from Ialwayshaveseveral book mortal. I’dadd thatthe concept of His books include The Language far and wide. possibilitiesfloatinginthe back of an afterlife is morallytroubling. It Instinct, The BlankSlate and Howphysicallyfitare you? mymind. But my greatest ambition impliesthat healthand happiness TheBetter Angels of OurNature. I’ve alwaystried to keep fit through is to writeonsometopic Inever arenot such abig deal, becauselife cycling,jogging,hiking and dreamed I’deverwriteabout. on earth is an infinitesimal portion What wasyour childhood or kayaking –any aerobic exercise in What drives youon? of one’s existence. Every moment in earliest ambition? which scenery goes by. Deepexplanations and our finite span of consciousness is By high school,Iknew that Iwanted Ambition or talent: which elegant language. somethingtosavour. to teach and thatIwantedtothink. mattersmoretosuccess? Howpolitically If youhad to rateyour satisfaction Ihad come across theterm“think- Theymultiply. committed areyou? with your life so far,out of 10, tank” and vaguelywanted to work In what placeare youhappiest? Having plottedsomuchdata on what would youscore? in one. My mothersaid, “The place In my house inCapeCod,with my human progress, I’ve become Giventhe possibilitiesfor suffering foryou is auniversity.” wife, the novelist and philosopher aradical incrementalist and and misfortunethat come with Privateschool or state school? Rebecca Newberger Goldstein. apassionatecentrist. Liberal being human, itwould be an actof Universityorstraight intowork? What would youliketoown that democracyand international cosmicingratitude for me to answer

Stateschools in Montreal, a youdon’t currentlypossess? institutions areprecious withanything lessthan 10. G bachelor’sfromMcGill, then a Asingle-digitinbox. accomplishments and well

lifetime ricocheting between What’syour biggest worth fighting for. Interview by HesterLacey. OOMBER BL

Harvard and MIT. extravagance? What is thegreatestachievement “Enlightenment Now: The Case for E/ Whowas or still is your mentor? ALeicaRangefinder.It’s of your lifesofar? , Science, , and LU

Ilearntexperimental psychology medium-tech at best, and The Better Angels of OurNature Progress”byStevenPinkeris RJB from Stephen Kosslyn, linguistic seriouslyoverpriced, but (2011). It surprisedreaderswith published by AllenLane TO VIC

8 FT.COM/MAGAZINE APRIL 28/292018