The Enigma of Reason

The Enigma of Reason: A New Theory of Human Understanding

Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber

What it’s about

This book is a treatise on the evolution of ‘reason’ in human evolution. The authors propose that “Whereas reason is commonly viewed as a superior means to think better on one’s own, we argue that it is mainly used in our interactions with others. We produce reasons in order to justify our thoughts and actions to others and to produce arguments to convince others to think and act as we suggest. We also use reason to evaluate not so much our own thought as the reasons others produce to justify themselves or to convince us. Whereas reason is commonly viewed as the use of logic, or at least some system of rules to expand and improve our knowledge and our decisions, we argue that reason is much more opportunistic and eclectic and is not bound to formal norms.”

Sperber, Dan; Mercier, Hugo. The Enigma of Reason: A New Theory of Human Understanding (p. 7). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.

Why I like it

Whereas the authors are proposing that the many unconscious biases which have been found in humans when they are applying reason, and which others have called ‘flaws’ in our ability to be objective and unbiased, are in fact ‘features’ which enable us to more effectively communicate our beliefs and ideas, and persuade others to share our beliefs and ideas. What I like about this is that it teaches us to be vigilant and attentive to the use of ‘reason’ by others, because it is an evolutionary tool developed to enable them to wrap their beliefs in a robe of credibility, rather than a tool developed to ensure their objectivity. No human is able to be objective and their use of reason isn’t evidence of their objectivity, but rather is their use of the tool to convince us that they are being objective and logical when, in reality, this is impossible.