Regulars p. 3 Editor’s Note p. 6 The Q&A Steven Pinker, linguist and cognitive scientist p. 9 Witness News and comment, compiled by Samira Shackle p. 71 Crossword Set by Chaliapin p. 74 Endgame The struggles of literary aspiration By Laurie Taylor Contents Spring 2018

p. 73 Quiz Set by Chris Maslanka columns p. 8 Cosmos The madness of the quantum universe By Marcus Chown p. 16 Soapbox How we are retreating to the irrational By Samira Ahmed p. 70 In a Word On the meaning of “hub” By Michael Rosen

Juliet Jacques on Ann Quin, page 66

“It seems the science fiction of my youth was prescient after all” Samira Ahmed, page 16

Features p. 18 Reportage Looking for a way back from sectarianism in Iraq By Samira Shackle p. 22 Cover story I Climate change is here. How can we adapt? By Will McCallum p. 26 Ideas Have postmodernist thinkers deconstructed truth just when we need it the most? By Peter Salmon p. 32 Cover story II Around the world, environmental activists are coming under attack By Sam Geall p. 36 Ethics How did we end up putting so many people in prison for so long? By Rosa Ellis p. 40 Beasts Myths and misconceptions about people and pets By Jonathan Rée Culture p. 46 Film What’s behind our cultural obsession with the apocalypse? By Cal Flyn g e s d

, O swal e s

) , J on

I ma

/ B r i d g e man t o pho e s

J on d

( b / w

Qu in

O swal o f

. A n ryan e oin b y u st r at ion il v e r

Estat e

/ ©

e c t ion

C ol

( 1 9 2 9 9 8 ) / P r i vat e

4

New Humanist | Spring 2018