I don’t think Pinker’s politics are clear from his books. I always figured he was a democrat who actually took libertarianism seriously, rather than just denouncing it.

Not that I normally think of libertarians as right wing (economically yes, otherwise no)

OK, just kidding. No, I don’t hate Will at all, and I read his blog regularly. Not being one of those people who likes to read things just to get all riled up, my reading it must mean that I find something interesting and/or insightful in it. It’s true that he and I are probably pretty far apart politically (just as Razib and I are), but I don’t see any reason to hate someone just because they differ politically.

Now, I do not like Pinker’s work (I’ve only met him a couple times in person, and so I couldn’t say what I think of him personally), but it’s not really because of his politics. I’ve got cog sci friends who are libertarians and republicans, and I like them just fine. I dislike his work because I think that he, like Lakoff, has a nasty habit of misrepresenting the state of research and debate on cognitive science, particularly when it comes to his adaptationism (which is, it should always be noted, not the mainstream view in cognitive science).

i had a conversation with pinker once, he struck me as a typical milquetoast democrat. but hey, you know what, i know people who are close to pinker. why don’t i ask them?

i only bring this up because people keep saying he is a “right winger.” i don’t think that’s accurate.

you’re a moderate democrat?

he has hated will. but more for his perception that will misunderstands cog sci than the politics. chris to the left of lakoff, but i consider him a ‘blog friend’ and i am probably to the right of will on many issues (e.g., anti-immigration).

I’m sure he’d hate you Will