Steven Pinker

Born to a Jewish family in Montreal, Steven Pinker, despite his formidable intellect, appears to have found more solace in the intricacies of syntax and evolutionary psychology than in the synagogue. His upbringing was secular, a detail he seems quite comfortable with, having described himself as an atheist. So, while the roots are undeniably there, don't expect him to be leading a Passover seder anytime soon.

Pinker is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking work in cognitive science and linguistics, particularly his theories on language acquisition and the idea of a