Balgarianovinite.com 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. Harvard Prof. Steven Pinker Receives Honorary Doctorate from Sofia University 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-04-16 18:43:01 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
