The Evolutionary Roots of Reasoning

Humans reason about many matters: from the most simple of concerns, like the planning of a weekend outing; to the most complex and intellectual topics. Given the ubiquity of reasoning, and the broad range of situations which call for it, we tend to take it for granted. But for these very same reasons, the study of reasoning is quite central to understanding the workings of the human mind. One can wonder how we came to acquire such a capacity, how our minds are so wired to make inferences, the places where reasoning breaks down, and so much more. 

On this first ever episode of the Cognitations Podcast, Hugo Mercier tells us how we can answer these questions. Hugo Mercier, is a cognitive scientist at the Institut Jean Nicod (CNRS). His work has primarily focused on the function and workings of reasoning. Other research themes that he engages with are collective intelligence, the evaluation of communicated information, trust in science and interest in science. He is the author of two books: The Enigma of Reason (co-authored with Dan Sperber) & Not Born Yesterday in 2020.

Credits:

Interview: Tanay Katiyar and Jay Richardson

Artwork: Ella Bergru

Editing: Mathieu Fraticelli

Music: Thelma Samuel and Robin Baradel

Communication: Guillaume Coudriet