The Power of Common Knowledge: Steven Pinker on Language, Norms, and Punishment

Michael Shermer interviews Steven Pinker about his new book, "When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows," which explores the concept of common knowledge and its impact on various aspects of life, including language, relationships, power dynamics, and social norms. They discuss the differences between private, reciprocal, mutual, and common knowledge, delving into game theory, coordination problems, and the role of common knowledge in maintaining social relationships and cultural norms. The conversation touches on cancel culture, the nuclear taboo, the nature of money, and the importance of fictions in social interactions, and the reasons why we can't have radical honesty.