Description

Rationality

In his book Rationality, Pinker challenges the prevailing belief that humans are inherently irrational beings. He dismisses the notion that we are primitive beings trapped in a modern world. Plagued by biases, fallacies, and illusions. Pinker argues that throughout history, humans have demonstrated their capacity for rationality by uncovering the laws of nature. Improving the quality and duration of our lives. And establishing the very foundations of rational thinking.

However, Pinker acknowledges that our thinking processes are often shaped by low-tech environments. In which we typically find ourselves. While we have evolved to navigate these contexts effectively. We often fail to fully utilize the sophisticated tools of reasoning that we have developed over thousands of years. These tools include logic, critical thinking, and probability assessment. Causal inference, and decision-making under uncertainty. Surprisingly, these essential skills are not commonly taught in our educational systems. Until now, no single book has comprehensively and engagingly presented them.

The significance of rationality cannot be overstated. It plays a crucial role in guiding our choices, both in our personal lives and in the broader public sphere. Rational thinking is the driving force behind social justice and moral progress. Pinker’s book, Rationality, is a treasure trove of profound insights and witty observations. It promises to enlighten readers, inspire them to embrace rationality and empower them to make better decisions. Renowned philosopher Peter Singer describes it as a much-needed book for our time. Highlighting its relevance and importance in today’s world.

About The Author

Steven Arthur Pinker is a highly esteemed experimental psychologist, cognitive scientist, and popular science author of Canadian-American descent. Renowned for his extensive investigations into the intricacies of human nature, Pinker delves into a wide range of subjects including language, history, morality, politics, and everyday life. His research primarily focuses on language and cognition, and he shares his insights through his writings in esteemed publications such as the New York Times, Time, and The New Republic. Pinker’s literary contributions are vast, with a notable collection of books including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, Words and Rules, The Blank Slate, The Stuff of Thought, The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, and his most recent work, Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress.

Rationality Early Life

Born in Canada, Pinker completed his education at Montreal’s Dawson College in 1973. He pursued his passion for experimental psychology and obtained a bachelor’s degree from McGill University in 1976. Continuing his academic journey, Pinker earned his doctorate in the same field from Harvard in 1979. Following this, he conducted research at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for a year before assuming the role of an assistant professor at both Harvard and Stanford University. From 1982 to 2003, Pinker dedicated his teaching expertise to the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT, eventually becoming the director of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience. He also took a one-year sabbatical at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1995-1996. Since 2008, Pinker has held the esteemed position of Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard.

Pulitzer Prize Finalist

Pinker’s contributions to the field of psychology and cognitive science have garnered him significant recognition. In 2004, he was honored as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. The following year, he was acknowledged as one of Prospect and Foreign Policy’s 100 top public intellectuals. Pinker has also been awarded honorary doctorates from esteemed institutions such as the universities of Newcastle, Surrey, Tel Aviv, McGill, and the University of Tromsø in Norway. His exceptional work has twice placed him as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, in 1998 and 2003. Notably, in January 2005, Pinker defended Lawrence Summers, the President of Harvard University, amidst controversy surrounding Summers’ comments on the gender gap in mathematics and science. Furthermore, on May 13th,