rationality

Brought to you by Penguin Books. Can reading a book make you more rational? Can it help you understand why there is so much irrationality in the world? These are the aims of Rationality, the sequel to Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now. In the 21st century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding, and at the same time, it seems to be losing its mind. How can a species that developed vaccines for COVID-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, bogus cures, and conspiracy theories? Pinker rejects the cynical stereotype that humans are an irrational species—humans from a bygone era, burdened by prejudices, fallacies, and illusions. After all, we have discovered the laws of nature, prolonged and enriched our lives, and set the standards of rationality itself. Instead, it shows that we think in sensible ways in the simple technological contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but we fail to take advantage of the powerful thinking tools we have built over the years: logic, critical thinking, probability, correlation, causation, and decision-making. These tools are not a core part of our educational curricula, and they have never been presented so clearly and entertainingly in a single book—until now. Rationality also explores its opposite: how the rational pursuit of self-interest, communal solidarity, and inspired myths by individuals can lead to paralyzing irrationality in society. Collective rationality relies on norms expressly designed to promote objectivity and truth. Rationality matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere and is the primary driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with insight and humor, Rationality will enlighten, inspire, and empower.