Enlightenment Now PDF Download

Author: Steven Pinker
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0698177886
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 578

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Book Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2018 ONE OF THE ECONOMIST'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR "My new favorite book of all time." --Bill Gates If you think the world is coming to an end, think again: people are living longer, healthier, freer, and happier lives, and while our problems are formidable, the solutions lie in the Enlightenment ideal of using reason and science. By the author of the new book, Rationality. Is the world really falling apart? Is the ideal of progress obsolete? In this elegant assessment of the human condition in the third millennium, cognitive scientist and public intellectual Steven Pinker urges us to step back from the gory headlines and prophecies of doom, which play to our psychological biases. Instead, follow the data: In seventy-five jaw-dropping graphs, Pinker shows that life, health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, and happiness are on the rise, not just in the West, but worldwide. This progress is not the result of some cosmic force. It is a gift of the Enlightenment: the conviction that reason and science can enhance human flourishing. Far from being a naïve hope, the Enlightenment, we now know, has worked. But more than ever, it needs a vigorous defense. The Enlightenment project swims against currents of human nature--tribalism, authoritarianism, demonization, magical thinking--which demagogues are all too willing to exploit. Many commentators, committed to political, religious, or romantic ideologies, fight a rearguard action against it. The result is a corrosive fatalism and a willingness to wreck the precious institutions of liberal democracy and global cooperation. With intellectual depth and literary flair, Enlightenment Now makes the case for reason, science, and humanism: the ideals we need to confront our problems and continue our progress.

Author: Dirk Helbing
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9783319908687
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 222

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Book Description
This new collection of essays follows in the footsteps of the successful volume Thinking Ahead - Essays on Big Data, Digital Revolution, and Participatory Market Society, published at a time when our societies were on a path to technological totalitarianism, as exemplified by mass surveillance reported by Edward Snowden and others. Meanwhile the threats have diversified and tech companies have gathered enough data to create detailed profiles about almost everyone living in the modern world - profiles that can predict our behavior better than our friends, families, or even partners. This is not only used to manipulate peoples’ opinions and voting behaviors, but more generally to influence consumer behavior at all levels. It is becoming increasingly clear that we are rapidly heading towards a cybernetic society, in which algorithms and social bots aim to control both the societal dynamics and individual behaviors. span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: However there are also silver linings: most of the threats that have accumulated over the past years have been identified and regulations are on the way to being introduced. Furthermore, entirely novel approaches based on blockchain technology and other developments derived from complexity science offer the possibility of entirely redefining collective trust and building platforms to support our core societal values. span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: This book conveys an encouraging vision of the future and provides a sketch of how it may look: The road to digital enlightenment is still open, but it needs to be taken now./pbrp

Author: Mireille Hildebrandt
Publisher: IOS Press
ISBN: 1614990565
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 336

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Book Description
There have been many inevitable transformations in society due to digitization - the introduction of digital technology, including communication technology, through the Internet and its use via the Web. This book is the first Yearbook of the Digital Enlightenment Forum. Whilst it cannot cover all the many aspects which the forum encompasses, the book gives an impression of the broad spectrum of the forum and a clear picture of the multi-disciplinary nature of the issues at stake. The first paper in the book is a contribution from the father of the Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, and Harry Halpin. They pose the question of whether the opportunity to participate in the empowered connected society should be protected, and conclude that urgent action is needed to promote and defend the Internet and the Web. Other papers explore topics such as legal issues and the rights of the citizen, privacy protection and international cooperation in the fight against cyber crime. The book ends with a number of scientific and technical papers as well as descriptions of practical problems and their possible solutions. Although the book addresses only the tip of a very large iceberg of problems, issues and possible technologies, it provides an excellent picture of the many challenges which must be faced in the years to come, and will be of interest to all those working towards the development of society in the spirit of enlightenment.

Author: Frederik Stjernfelt
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030259684
Category : Freedom of speech
Languages : en
Pages : 295

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Book Description
This open access monograph argues established democratic norms for freedom of expression should be implemented on the internet. Moderating policies of tech companies as Facebook, Twitter and Google have resulted in posts being removed on an industrial scale. While this moderation is often encouraged by governments - on the pretext that terrorism, bullying, pornography, "hate speech" and "fake news" will slowly disappear from the internet - it enables tech companies to censure our society. It is the social media companies who define what is blacklisted in their community standards. And given the dominance of social media in our information society, we run the risk of outsourcing the definition of our principles for discussion in the public domain to private companies. Instead of leaving it to social media companies only to take action, the authors argue democratic institutions should take an active role in moderating criminal content on the internet. To make this possible, tech companies should be analyzed whether they are approaching a monopoly. Antitrust legislation should be applied to bring those monopolies within democratic governmental oversight. Despite being in different stages in their lives, Anne Mette is in the startup phase of her research career, while Frederik is one of the most prolific philosophers in Denmark, the authors found each other in their concern about Free Speech on the internet. The book was originally published in Danish as Dit opslag er blevet fjernet - techgiganter & ytringsfrihed. Praise for 'Your Post has been Removed' "From my perspective both as a politician and as private book collector, this is the most important non-fiction book of the 21st Century. It should be disseminated to all European citizens. The learnings of this book and the use we make of them today are crucial for every man, woman and child on earth. Now and in the future." Jens Rohde, member of the European Parliament for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe "This timely book compellingly presents an impressive array of information and analysis about the urgent threats the tech giants pose to the robust freedom of speech and access to information that are essential for individual liberty and democratic self-government. It constructively explores potential strategies for restoring individual control over information flows to and about us. Policymakers worldwide should take heed!" Nadine Strossen, Professor, New York Law School. Author, HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship.

Author: Bernadette Bensaude-Vincent
Publisher: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN: 9780754663706
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description
The essays in this volume consider the interplay of science and spectacle in eighteenth-century Europe, describing the variety of public demonstrations of science in sites ranging from academies and laboratories to shops and streets.

Author: Chad Wellmon
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421416158
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 366

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Book Description
Tells the story of how the research university emerged in the early nineteenth century at a similarly fraught moment of cultural anxiety about revolutionary technologies and their disruptive effects on established institutions of knowledge.

Author: ZIP Reads
Publisher: ZIP Reads
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 47

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Book Description
If you've been feeling like the world has been getting worse off, that violence is on the rise, or that humanity has already "peaked" then this book will challenge everything you've been feeling. Delve deep into the world of data where Pinker presents rock-solid arguments for the betterment of humanity as a whole. Steven Pinker wants to prove that we are living in a world that is better off than it has ever been, and it will only continue to get better. In Enlightenment Now, Pinker argues that the best tools we have come from the 18th century ideals of reason, science, progress and humanism, and we can leverage them in very 21st century ways by using data to tell the story of our modern world. What does this ZIP Reads Summary Include? A synopsis of the original bookAn overview of the core tenets of Enlightenment thinkingDetailed chapter-by-chapter breakdownsKey takeaways including major data points from Pinker's bookA in-depth editorial review of the merits and shortcomings of the original titleEditorial Review of the original bookShort bio of Steven PinkerAbout the Original Book: Enlightenment Now is Steven Pinker’s love letter to the Enlightenment. Knowledge, he argues, is our best tool against the traps set by atrophying political parties, salacious media, and theocratic social norms. With reason, science, and humanism—the foundational principles of the Enlightenment—and our modern ways of measuring progress by way of data, Pinker elegantly proves that the world is in a better place than it used to be, and things will only keep getting better so long as we stay committed to those principles that have served us and still do. DISCLAIMER: This book is intended as a companion to, not a replacement for, Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress. ZIP Reads is wholly responsible for this content and is not associated with the original author in any way.

Author: Steven Pinker
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101202602
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 524

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Book Description
This New York Times bestseller is an exciting and fearless investigation of language from the author of Rationality, The Better Angels of Our Nature and The Sense of Style and Enlightenment Now. "Curious, inventive, fearless, naughty." --The New York Times Book Review Bestselling author Steven Pinker possesses that rare combination of scientific aptitude and verbal eloquence that enables him to provide lucid explanations of deep and powerful ideas. His previous books - including the Pulitzer Prize finalist The Blank Slate - have catapulted him into the limelight as one of today's most important popular science writers. In The Stuff of Thought, Pinker presents a fascinating look at how our words explain our nature. Considering scientific questions with examples from everyday life, The Stuff of Thought is a brilliantly crafted and highly readable work that will appeal to fans of everything from The Selfish Gene and Blink to Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

Author: Simon Pont
Publisher: Kogan Page Publishers
ISBN: 0749468866
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
What is the Digital State? What is our Digital State of Mind? What does this Digital State mean for brands and for businesses? Big data, new distribution platforms, content collaboration, geo-targeting, crowdsourcing, viral marketing, mobile apps - the technological revolution has transformed the way society communicates and understands itself, and unleashed a whirlwind of new possibilities for marketers, as well as new risks. Mirroring the 'collaborative play space' Tim Berners-Lee first envisaged for the internet, Digital State brings together Simon Pont and 13 thought-leaders drawn from the worlds of advertising, marketing, media, publishing, law, finance and more, to explore what the digital age means for us as individuals, and the implications for the brands seeking to engage with us. Edited and part-written by Simon Pont, Digital State explores the possibilities and pitfalls of our digital age, an age where people can be brought together and new opportunities explored like never before. Contributors include: Faris Yakob, Strategist, creative director, writer, public speaker & geek; former Chief Innovation Officer (MDC Partners); Judd Labarthe, Former Executive Planning Director, Argonauten; Bettina Sherick, SVP, Digital Strategic Marketing, 20th Century Fox International; Austen Kay, Co-founder & Joint Managing Director, w00t! Media; Christian Johnsen, Global Strategy Director, Aegis North America, and cocreator of This Place; Hans Andersson, Senior Partner, Forsman & Bodenfors; Tamara Quinn, Head of Intellectual Property, Berwin Leighton Paisner; Nicholas Pont, SVP, PIMCO; Vicki Connerty, Head of Newcast, ZenithOptimedia Australia; Malcolm Hunter, Brand & Communications Consultant, former Chief Strategy Officer (Aegis); Greg Grimmer, Co-founder, Hurrell Moseley Dawson & Grimmer (HDMG); Stefan Terry, Founder of Leap of Being; former Managing Partner, Heavenly Group Ltd

Author: Steven Pinker
Publisher: Penguin Books
ISBN: 0143122010
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 834

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Book Description
Faced with the ceaseless stream of news about war, crime, and terrorism, one could easily think this is the most violent age ever seen. Yet as bestselling author Pinker shows in this startling and engaging new work, just the opposite is true.