#1661
Mentioned in 18 episodes
The Enigma of Reason
A New Theory of Human Understanding
Book • 2000
In 'The Enigma of Reason', Mercier and Sperber argue that human reason did not evolve to enable individuals to solve abstract logical problems or make better decisions on their own.
Instead, they propose that reason is primarily a social competence, developed to justify thoughts and actions to others, produce arguments to convince others, and evaluate the reasons given by others.
This theory explains why reason is both a unique cognitive capacity of humans and why it often leads to biased and lazy reasoning.
The book emphasizes that reason's main utility lies in facilitating cooperation and communication within complex social groups, making it an adaptation to the hypersocial niche humans have built for themselves.
Instead, they propose that reason is primarily a social competence, developed to justify thoughts and actions to others, produce arguments to convince others, and evaluate the reasons given by others.
This theory explains why reason is both a unique cognitive capacity of humans and why it often leads to biased and lazy reasoning.
The book emphasizes that reason's main utility lies in facilitating cooperation and communication within complex social groups, making it an adaptation to the hypersocial niche humans have built for themselves.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 18 episodes
Mentioned by 
Rory Sutherland in the context of the argumentation hypothesis, suggesting that reason evolved primarily for argumentation, not decision-making.
Rory Sutherland in the context of the argumentation hypothesis, suggesting that reason evolved primarily for argumentation, not decision-making.
1,267 snips
Rory Sutherland
Mentioned by 
Gad Saad , it argues that reasoning evolved to win arguments, not to seek objective truth.
Gad Saad , it argues that reasoning evolved to win arguments, not to seek objective truth.
27 snips
‘Kamala Harris Is A Lobotomized Fool’ | Gad Saad On Trump, Freedom, Censorship (The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad_837)
Mentioned by Gad Saad as a book arguing that human reasoning evolved to win arguments, not seek objective truth.
Gad Saad as a book arguing that human reasoning evolved to win arguments, not seek objective truth.25 snips
The Psychology of Irrational Empathy - Fueling Cultural Chaos (The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad_834)
Mentioned by 
Sean Carroll when discussing the social aspect of reason and giving reasons for actions.
Sean Carroll when discussing the social aspect of reason and giving reasons for actions.
24 snips
239 | Brian Lowery on the Social Self
Mentioned by Gad Saad to illustrate the point that people are more focused on winning arguments than seeking truth.
13 snips
The Signal Security Breach, Woke Women, and Islam in the US (The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad_811)
Mentioned by Ben Chugg as the first book co-authored by Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber, which explores the social nature of human reason.
#84 - A Primer on Not Born Yesterday by Hugo Mercier
Mentioned by Gad Saad in the context of explaining why people prioritize tribal allegiance over truth in arguments.
Gad Saad in the context of explaining why people prioritize tribal allegiance over truth in arguments. Latest Things That Are Pissing Me Off (The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad_804)
Mentioned by Henry Farrell as the authors of "The Enigma of Reason", which explores how human reasoning evolved as a way of justifying positions in social contexts.
148 | Henry Farrell on Democracy as a Problem-Solving Mechanism
Mentioned by Gad Saad to explain why people engage in tribalism and hate, focusing on the evolutionary purpose of reason to win arguments, not seek objective truth.
Gad Saad to explain why people engage in tribalism and hate, focusing on the evolutionary purpose of reason to win arguments, not seek objective truth. The Parasitic Mind, Suicidal Empathy, Taxation, and Canada with Viva Frei (The Saad Truth with Dr. Saad_809)
Mentioned by Vaden Masrani as a book discussing how humans are better at evaluating arguments from others than their own, offering insights into overcoming confirmation bias.
Episode 95: On Morality, Moralizing, and Elephant Jockeys (Round Table)
