The Blank Slate Analysis

The concept of the blank slates derives from the idea that people turn out to be who they are not from genes but from the contribution of parenting, socialization, and experiences (Pinker, 2003). In other words, people believe environmental factors play a major role in their lifespan development. Moreover, those who believe that the human brain is not genetically predisposed also indicates that human beings do not have instincts (Pinker, 2003). Contrary to popular belief, there are others who are contentious upon this concept. Among those who disagree with the blank slates, Steven Pinker is one of them (Pinker, 2003). Pinker is a psychologist who wrote the book The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature. He argues that people
One of the three reasons he mentions is parents’ ability to distinguish the temperaments and talents of each child. Despite growing up in the same setting, each child behaves and acts differently toward a situation because of innate traits. Pinker further states that a child alone acquires the human language while the house pet won’t even though both were exposed to the human language (Pinker, 2003). It is logical that dogs bark and humans speak, thus Pinker uses this rational difference to support human nature. The third evidence that Pinker mentions is the discernibility of the differences between a man and a woman’s mind (Pinker, 2003). Often times, a couple label themselves as the man or the woman in the relationship. The couple who label themselves had eventually approach the awareness of the men and women differences: the man takes the first initiative and stands up for the relationship and the woman rely on the man. Based on this approach, it is conclusive that people conform to their gender roles. Pinker’s suggests that people are not blank slates if one can distinguish his/her differences from someone
One of the hot buttons the book mentioned was regarding the arts (Pinker, 2003). According to Pinker, the arts, which includes visual arts, dance, music, poetry, and storytelling, are found in all cultures, leading to the conclusion that the arts are human universals (Pinker, 2003). In regards to this topic, Pinker mentions that people eventually began saying the arts are in decline and the function of the arts changed in about December of 1910 (2003). However, Pinker does not completely agree with this (2003). Although some areas of the arts are diminishing, the arts are still alive and new forms of arts are flourishing. He connects the finding of arts in every culture with human nature and implies that nature provides people with an innate aesthetic sense. Unlike Pinker, people suggests that the blank slates exist since arts are independent on cultures due to its decline. Pinker then uses a portrait of a female form in the 15th century and the female form in the 20th century to portray what the change in art has to do with the blank slates (2003). The female form in the 15th century would be described as more beautiful than the form in the 20th century, but this does not explain the decline of the arts; rather the change of the way human appeal to senses (Pinker, 2003). The arts is still among human