The enigma of reason
(Book)
Author:
Contributors:
Sperber, Dan, author.
Published:
Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 2017.
Physical Desc:
vi, 396 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Status:
Bemis Lower Level has 2
128.33 MERCIER
Description
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.--
Copies
Location
Call Number
Status
Last Check-In
Bemis Lower Level
128.33 MERCIER
On Shelf
Jun 13, 2023
Bemis Lower Level
128.33 MERCIER
On Shelf
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Subjects
LC Subjects
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More Details
Format:
Book
Language:
English
ISBN:
9780674368309, 0674368304, 9780674237827, 067423782X
UPC:
40026906542
Notes
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 357-382) and index.
Description
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.--,Provided by publisher.
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Citations
APA Citation (style guide)
Mercier, H., & Sperber, D. (2017). The enigma of reason. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)Mercier, Hugo and Dan, Sperber. 2017. The Enigma of Reason. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)Mercier, Hugo and Dan, Sperber, The Enigma of Reason. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 2017.
MLA Citation (style guide)Mercier, Hugo, and Dan Sperber. The Enigma of Reason. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 2017.
Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
Staff View
Grouped Work ID:
d136f606-631d-c0d7-a2c7-ac48839ec6c9
Record Information
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| Last File Modification Time | Apr 21, 2024 10:22:03 AM |
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| 245 | 1 | 4 | |a The enigma of reason /|c Hugo Mercier, Dan Sperber. |
| 264 | 1 | |a Cambridge, Massachusetts :|b Harvard University Press,|c 2017. | |
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| 504 | |a Includes bibliographical references (pages 357-382) and index. | ||
| 505 | 0 | |a Introduction: A double enigma -- Part I. Shaking dogma: Reason on trial -- Psychologists' travails -- Part II. Understanding inference: From unconscious inferences to intuitions -- Modularity -- Cognitive opportunism -- Metarepresentations -- Part III. Rethinking reason: How we use reasons -- Could reason be a module? -- Reasoning: intuition and reflection -- Reason: what is it for? -- Part IV. What reason can and cannot do -- Why is reasoning biased? -- Quality control: how we evaluate arguments -- The dark side of reason -- A reason for everything -- The bright side of reasoning -- Part V. Reason in the wild: Is human reason universal? -- Reasoning about moral and political topics -- Solitary geniuses? -- Conclusion: In praise of reason after all. | |
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