An article in an issue of the New York Times (Nov. 29, 2011) does not mention Theosophy but does treat a fundamental Theosophical idea, namely, that human evolution helps to perfect our species. The article concerns a linguist named Steven Pinker, whose most recent book, The Better Angels of Our Nature, argues that violence has declined during human history because evolution results in an improvement in human behavior. He maintains: “Even if we do have inclinations toward violence, we also have inclination to empathy, to cooperation, to self-control.” The implication is that evolution is not simply a matter of causation, but has a purpose; and that is a basic principle of Theosophy.
