STEVEN PINKER & MICHAEL SHERMER! Artificial Intelligence, Enlightenment & Skepticism 

Like many things discussed, the problems have often not only existed in the past but were worse in the past, but often people have the delusion it was better in the past and worse today.

Idiocracy in America has become a reality.

Pinker is pals with creeps like Bill Gates and Epstein. He also spouts absolute garbage about everything being better today. He’s a shill for corporate overlord think tank garbage.

Yes, he's compromised rational skepticism of late....too.

I'd be happy for either of them to be leaders of modern democracies given the candidate reality. Ring in the age of the philosopher king/queen whatever, I say (for all the imperfections on offer it has to better than the Big Dumb we keep elevating to the corridors of power).

They both have great but flawed minds like most people. There’s really good arguments against Pinker’s theory that everything is getting better. He does a lot of cherry picking. There’s some really good RU-vid channels that comb through all of his “evidence”. UnlearningEconomics and Wisecrack are a couple good places to start if interested in hearing those arguments.

You explain they have great but flawed minds, like everyone else....then you make the rookie mistake of pointing out their flaws from your own flawed mind and then point people to the websites of more people with flawed minds. Not sure what you're trying to do here. Is your assessment is that everyone but you has a flawed mind? Normally people who understand that not everyone has the answers also include themselves in that assessment.

The word is xenophobia.

I think you miss his main thesis. The political and social dynamic in the west is overwhelmingly negative, yet we live in the most affluent and peaceful period in human history. He writes to remind us of the progress we have made, the good things that exist, and how we have reason to believe in a positive future. He is not trying to pretend that we do not have problems or that everyone enjoys the fruits of our relative collective success. I think you should read two of his books in particular "The better angels of our nature" and "Enlightenment Now".

He has backed up everything with verified facts and solid sources.

Agreed, he never denies and fully acknowledges the huge issues we face. However, he says that in the face of this, to help inspire motivation to keep trying, he points out the massive leaps forward a huge range of markers like poverty, safety and education in society ​@peteroliver7975

What the crap are you saying lol