David Berlinski | The Ben Shapiro Show Sunday Special Ep. 78

In 'On Human Nature', Edward O. Wilson presents a naturalistic view of human nature, arguing that human behavior, including instincts, social behavior, and morality, has a biological basis grounded in thousands of millennia of evolution. Wilson challenges traditional views from religion and behaviorism, proposing that genetics and evolutionary theory can explain human behavior. He discusses topics such as aggression, altruism, and the role of religion and social structures as evolutionary outgrowths of the human brain. The book emphasizes the importance of sociobiology in understanding human nature and its complexities, including the interplay between individual and group selection forces that shape human behavior.

In 'Enlightenment Now', Steven Pinker presents a comprehensive argument that the values of the Enlightenment—reason, science, and humanism—have been instrumental in the progress of human society. He challenges the prevailing pessimism in modern discourse by presenting empirical evidence that life, health, prosperity, safety, peace, knowledge, and happiness are on the rise globally. Pinker uses data and graphs to illustrate improvements in various aspects of human life, such as increased life expectancy, reduced child and maternal mortality, and advancements in medicine and technology. He also addresses the psychological biases that lead people to underestimate these improvements and emphasizes the importance of continuing to uphold Enlightenment ideals to ensure further progress.

In *The Devil's Delusion*, David Berlinski challenges the New Atheists' views, arguing that science has limitations and cannot fully explain the mysteries of existence. He explores profound questions in science and philosophy, suggesting that aspects of reality may lie beyond scientific investigation. Berlinski also examines the historical relationship between science and religion, highlighting the religious beliefs of influential scientists like Newton and Einstein.