The Enigma of Reason: A New Theory of Human Understanding

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. Ambitious, provocative, and entertaining, __The Enigma of Reason will__ spark debate among psychologists and philosophers, and make many reasonable people rethink their own thinking. 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.-- 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. Hugo Mercier, Dan Sperber. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. “Brilliant...Timely and necessary.” —Financial Times“Especially timely as we struggle to make sense of how it is that individuals and communities persist in holding beliefs that have been thoroughly discredited.”—Darren Frey, ScienceIf reason is what makes us human, why do we behave so irrationally? And if it is so useful, why didn't it evolve in other animals? This groundbreaking account of the evolution of reason by two renowned cognitive scientists seeks to solve this double enigma. Reason, they argue, helps us justify our beliefs, convince others, and evaluate arguments. It makes it easier to cooperate and communicate and to live together in groups. Provocative, entertaining, and undeniably relevant, The Enigma of Reason will make many reasonable people rethink their beliefs.“Reasonable-seeming people are often totally irrational. Rarely has this insight seemed more relevant...Still, an essential puzzle remains: How did we come to be this way?...Cognitive scientists Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber [argue that] reason developed not to enable us to solve abstract, logical problems...[but] to resolve the problems posed by living in collaborative groups.”—Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker“Turns reason's weaknesses into strengths, arguing that its supposed flaws are actually design features that work remarkably well.”—Financial Times“The best thing I have read about human reasoning. It is extremely well written, interesting, and very enjoyable to read.”—Gilbert Harman, Princeton University "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."-- Résumé de l'éditeur