Human = kind

April 2, 2023

Podcast with Rutger Bregman, historian and author of “Humankind: A Hopeful History,” talking about the common misperception that humans are cursed with an ‘evil’ nature.

“The notion that our civilization is just a thin veneer, just a thin layer, and that below that lies raw human nature, which is nasty — this is a hugely popular and influential theory in our culture.” Bregman says that that dark side of human nature is perpetuated in our culture — across literature, movies, and news feeds — and is not an accurate portrayal of our true nature, and there is plenty of science and research indicating that human nature is evolving to be kinder and more cooperative. See our review of Humankind here.