The Enigma of Reason |
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| Author:
| Mercier, Hugo
Sperber, Dan |
| ISBN: | 978-0-674-97786-0 |
| Publication Date: | Apr 2017 |
| Publisher: | Harvard University Press
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| Book Format: | Ebook |
| List Price: | USD $53.00USD $22.00 |
Book Description:
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If reason is so useful and reliable, why didn't it evolve in other animals and why do humans produce so much thoroughly reasoned nonsense? Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber argue that reason is not geared to solitary use. It evolved to help justify our beliefs to others, evaluate their arguments, and better exploit our uniquely rich social environment.
If reason is so useful and reliable, why didn't it evolve in other animals and why do humans produce so much thoroughly reasoned nonsense? Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber argue that reason is not geared to solitary use. It evolved to help justify our beliefs to others, evaluate their arguments, and better exploit our uniquely rich social environment.