Original description:
Have human societies become less violent due to a complex mixture of economic development, medical advancement and political structures? Or did some European guys write some books saying murder was bad?
This week we're tackling Steven Pinker's 900 page dissection of the reasons why violence, torture and war have declined over the last 10,000 years. Was it an indeterminate mixture of politics, economics, technology and serendipity? Or did some European guys write some books that said murder was bad?

Special thanks to Philip Dwyer, Eleanor Janega, David M. Perry and Doug Thompson for help researching and fact-checking this episode!

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Where to find us:
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TwitterPeter's other podcast, 5-4
Mike's other podcast, Maintenance Phase

Sources:
The Darker Angels of Our Nature
Getting Medieval On Steven Pinker
The Decline of Violence in the West: From Cultural to Post-Cultural History
Pinker’s (Mis)Representation of the Enlightenment and Violence
Herding and Homicide: An Examination of the Nisbett-Reaves Hypothesis
Peace in Our Time
John Gray: Steven Pinker is wrong about violence and war
The business class doesn't understand the Enlightenment
Delusions Of Peace
Pinker And Progress
Norbert Elias and the History of Violence
Modernization, Self-Control And Lethal Violence
Explaining Long Term Trends in Violent Crime
The Enlightenment’s Dark Side

Thanks to Mindseye for our theme song!

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