Full Summary Of "Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress – By Steven Pinker". Sapiens Editorial

avoid declinism, it is necessary that we make use of the reason to analyze the enormous and negative amount of information that we receive everywhere, especially from the news. This tendency to share only the bad facts makes us think that negative events are more common than positive ones and, therefore, the world is an undesirable and corrupted place.

      MYTHS THAT DRIVE US TO DECLINISM

      Below is a list of the most common arguments against progress, along with the author's counter arguments.

      1. THE INEQUALITY BETWEEN RICH AND POOR IS GROWING: inequality is inherent in economic progress, with humanitarian disasters and economic disasters actually being the events that most balance social equality. However, it will surprise many to discover that inequality is not an element that precedes welfare, since the latter is achieved when there is health, knowledge and tranquility. In any case, global statistics indicate that inequality has decreased, since developing countries focus part of their effort on it.

      2. PROGRESS HAS LED US TO A SUPERFICIAL CONSUMERISM THAT GENERATES EMPTY LIVES: at present, youth are not only focusing on the material, but they are investing their time, energy and resources in significant experiences, such as traveling, acquiring specialized knowledge, exploiting their creativity and sharing with their loved ones.