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Reason, we are told, is what makes us human, the source of our knowledge and wisdom. If reason is so useful, why didn't it also evolve in other animals? If reason is that reliable, why do we produce so much thoroughly reasoned nonsense? In their groundbreaking account of the evolution and workings of reason, Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber set out to solve this double enigma. Reason, they argue with a compelling mix of real-life and experimental evidence, is not geared to solitary use, to arriving at better beliefs and decisions on our own. What reason does, rather, is help us justify our beliefs and actions to others, convince them through argumentation, and evaluate the justifications and arguments that others address to us. In other words, reason helps humans better exploit their uniquely rich social environment. This interactionist interpretation explains why reason may have evolved and how it fits with other cognitive mechanisms. It makes sense of strengths and weaknesses that have long puzzled philosophers and psychologists--why reason is biased in favor of what we already believe, why it may lead to terrible ideas and yet is indispensable to spreading good ones.--
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Previews available in: English
Subjects
Social aspects, Reason, Reason -- Social aspectsShowing 7 featured editions. View all 7 editions?
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The Enigma of Reason
Mar 01, 2021, Tantor and Blackstone Publishing
audio cd
1665243643 9781665243643
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Enigma of Reason: A New Theory of Human Understanding
2018, Penguin Books, Limited
in English
0241957850 9780241957851
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The Enigma of Reason: A New Theory of Human Understanding
Apr 06, 2017, ALLEN LANE
hardcover
1846145570 9781846145575
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Enigma of Reason: A New Theory of Human Understanding
2017, Penguin Books, Limited
in English
1846145589 9781846145582
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Book Details
Table of Contents
Edition Notes
Includes bibliographical references and index.
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