Name: Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters
SKU: 9780141989860
Price: 10.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters

£10.99

PINKER, STEVEN

Product Details

ISBN: 9780141989860

Author: PINKER, STEVEN

"Punchy, funny and invigorating ... Pinker is the high priest of rationalism" — Sunday Times

"If you've ever considered taking drugs to make yourself smarter, read Rationality instead. It's cheaper, more entertaining, and more effective" — Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind

In the twenty-first century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding — and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that discovered vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, quack cures, and conspiracy theorizing?

What You'll Discover in Rationality

In Rationality, Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply an irrational species — cavemen out of time fatally cursed with biases, fallacies, and illusions. Instead, he argues that:

We have discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives, and set the benchmarks for rationality itself.
Humans think in ways that suit the low-tech contexts of daily life but often fail to utilize the powerful tools of reasoning developed over millennia.

These tools include:

Logic
Critical thinking
Probability
Causal inference
Decision-making under uncertainty

Pinker explains that these tools are rarely taught in schools and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book — until now.

Why Rationality Matters

Rationality is essential because:

It leads to better choices in both our personal lives and the public sphere.
It serves as the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress.

Brimming with insight and humor, Rationality will enlighten, inspire, and empower readers.

"A terrific book, much-needed for our time" — Peter Singer

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