site.btaHarvard Prof. Steven Pinker Receives Honorary Doctorate from Sofia University

Canadian-American experimental cognitive psychologist and popular science author Steven Pinker on Thursday received an honorary doctorate from the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia.

At a solemn ceremony at the higher educational establishment's Aula Magna, Prof. Pinker was presented with the insignia of the honorary decree by the University's Vice Rector, Prof. Dr Reneta Bozhankova.

Presenting the honoree, Assoc. Prof. Dr Daria Karapetkova, Director of the Sofia University Cultural Centre, described the Harvard professor as a "cherished and long-awaited guest, a scholar and intellectual capable of demonstrating that even in this day and age a narrow university specialist can rank among the world's most influential figures and qualify as a leading global thinker and a most prominent psychologist worldwide."

Karapetkova acknowledged the scholar's contributions to language development, evolutionary psychology and cognitive mechanisms that underlie thinking as impacting both academic pursuits and hands-on education, communication and AI.

"Prof. Pinker's books (quite a few of which have been translated and published in Bulgaria) make complicated scientific concepts accessible to the general public, encouraging critical reasoning, rational discourse and proof-based thinking," Karapetkova said, highlighting the scholar's commitment to popular science.

At the induction ceremony, the Honorary Professor delivered a lecture on "When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows". He elaborated on common knowledge, focusing on the mysteries of money, power, and everyday life, based on his latest book. Pinker also discussed optimism and progress and the way humankind is going. 

He pointed out that, as he was warned that Bulgarians tend to be pessimistic, he would like to convey a message that the world should be regarded as a trend rather than as headline news. He argued that positive changes transform the world unnoticeably as facts and factors that build up in the long term. While terrible things keep happening in the world, facts, data, trends and charts prove that the world is far different and is improving compared to what it was in times past. He sees this as proof that optimism is worthwhile and progress is possible. Our ancestors did it, and we can do it for the benefit of those who will come after us," Pinker argued.

Later in the day, Prof. Pinker met with undergraduates, lecturers, readers and fans. The Dean of the Faculty of Slavic Studies, Prof. Dr Amelia Licheva, said at the meeting that the guest is "an exceedingly important figure inescapably to be reckoned with". She laid a special emphasis on the Canadian-American psychologist's reliance on facts and refutation of conspiracy theories.