# Enlightenment Now *Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress* (2018) by [[Steven Pinker]] argues that Enlightenment values—reason, science, humanism—have produced measurable progress across nearly every dimension of human welfare. Using extensive data, Pinker shows declines in violence, poverty, disease, and ignorance, and increases in longevity, education, and quality of life. The book responds to "progressophobia"—the tendency to believe things are getting worse despite evidence to the contrary. Pinker attributes pessimism to cognitive biases (availability heuristic, negativity bias) and media incentives. Critics argue Pinker downplays existential risks (climate change, AI), inequality, and that progress isn't inevitable. The book serves as a defense of modernity and secular humanism. ## Progress Metrics | Domain | Trend | |--------|-------| | Life expectancy | Rising globally | | Extreme poverty | Declining | | Violence | Long-term decline | | Literacy | Rising | | Democracy | Expanding (with setbacks) | ## References - Pinker, Steven. *Enlightenment Now* (2018) ## Related - [[Steven Pinker]] - [[Rationalism]] - [[Progress]] - [[Humanism]] - [[Cognitive Biases]]