Borrowing from Norbert Elias, this book posits that "feudal anarchy" has been reduced via a (*) "civilizing process" of "peaceful commerce."
Peter Singer's review of this book, which notes "it is unusual for the subtitle of a book to undersell it," highlights its example of an ad showing a man spanking his wife over coffee to highlight the success of the "rights revolution." This book essentially states that Hobbes was right in pointing to "Leviathan," as well as the "Escalator of Reason," for its central phenomenon. It opens by stating that it is about "what may be the most important thing to happen in human history." Borrowing from Norbert Elias, this book posits that "feudal anarchy" has been reduced via a (*) "civilizing process" of "peaceful commerce." Against the "hydraulic theory," this book proposes that predation, dominance, revenge, sadism, and ideology provide the main motivations for its central behavior, and calls them "five demons," while noting that up to 15% of people die of murder in tribal societies. For 10 points, name this book which argues that violence has declined over time, a book by Stephen Pinker.
Peter Singer's review of this book, which notes "it is unusual for the subtitle of a book to undersell it," highlights its example of an ad showing a man spanking his wife over coffee to highlight the success of the "rights revolution.
The Better Angels of Our Nature