Placeholder text

Go to cart

Rationality

By Steven Pinker

Rationality Social Sciences

Rationality

Only 1 item left in stock
Description
Can reading a book make you more rational? Can it help us understand why there is so much irrationality in the world? Steven Pinker, author of Enlightenment Now, answers all the questions here Today humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding-and also appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that developed vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, medical quackery, and conspiracy theorizing? Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply irrational-cavemen out of time saddled with biases, fallacies, and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives, and set out the benchmarks for rationality itself. We actually think in ways that are sensible in the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we've discovered over the millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, correlation and causation, and optimal ways to update beliefs and commit to choices individually and with others. These tools are not a standard part of our education, and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book-until now. Rationality also explores its opposite: how the rational pursuit of self-interest, sectarian solidarity, and uplifting mythology can add up to crippling irrationality in a society. Collective rationality depends on norms that are explicitly designed to promote objectivity and truth. Rationality matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with Pinker's customary insight and humor, Rationality will enlighten, inspire, and empower.
Product details
Number of Pages:
432
Release Date:
2021-09-28
Publication Date:
2021-09-28
Publisher:
Penguin Publishing Group
Languages:
Original: English
ISBN10:
0525561994
ISBN13:
9780525561996
Weight:
633 g
Height:
159 cm
Width:
236 cm
Thickness:
43 cm
Buy on Amazon

Condition

Show more

Show less
Very good
Almost no signs of wear. Book pages have no markings, accessories are intact and all other media are in good condition.
Available immediately
€12,79

Incl. VAT, plus shipping costs

PayPal
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
Only 1 item left in stock

Verified second-hand article

Verified second-hand item

Free shipping from 19€

€12,79