H

Hugo Mercier Books

1 book·~10 min total read

Hugo Mercier is a French cognitive scientist known for his research on reasoning, communication, and social cognition. He is a researcher at the Institut Jean Nicod in Paris and co-author of 'The Enigma of Reason'.

Known for: Not Born Yesterday: The Science of Who We Trust and What We Believe

Books by Hugo Mercier

Not Born Yesterday: The Science of Who We Trust and What We Believe

Not Born Yesterday: The Science of Who We Trust and What We Believe

cognition·10 min read

In this book, cognitive scientist Hugo Mercier challenges the common belief that humans are gullible and easily deceived. Drawing on research in psychology, anthropology, and evolutionary theory, Mercier argues that people are generally good at evaluating information and that our trust in others is guided by sophisticated cognitive mechanisms. He explores how communication, persuasion, and misinformation work in real-world contexts, showing that our minds are better equipped for critical thinking than often assumed.

Read Summary

Key Insights from Hugo Mercier

1

The Evolutionary Basis of Trust

Trust is not a naive leap of faith; it’s an outcome of millions of years of social evolution. As humans moved from solitary survival toward cooperative living, trust became the cornerstone of group success. But here’s the crucial insight: evolution designed trust not as blind acceptance but as calib...

From Not Born Yesterday: The Science of Who We Trust and What We Believe

2

Mechanisms of Belief Formation

Belief isn’t an on-off switch activated by exposure to a statement. When we encounter new information, our cognitive system immediately begins asking: Who said it? Why? Does it fit with what I already know? Our minds are not empty vessels but evaluators, comparing incoming data with stored knowledge...

From Not Born Yesterday: The Science of Who We Trust and What We Believe

About Hugo Mercier

Hugo Mercier is a French cognitive scientist known for his research on reasoning, communication, and social cognition. He is a researcher at the Institut Jean Nicod in Paris and co-author of 'The Enigma of Reason'. His work focuses on how humans evaluate information and make decisions in social cont...

Read more

Hugo Mercier is a French cognitive scientist known for his research on reasoning, communication, and social cognition. He is a researcher at the Institut Jean Nicod in Paris and co-author of 'The Enigma of Reason'. His work focuses on how humans evaluate information and make decisions in social contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hugo Mercier is a French cognitive scientist known for his research on reasoning, communication, and social cognition. He is a researcher at the Institut Jean Nicod in Paris and co-author of 'The Enigma of Reason'.

Read Hugo Mercier's books in 15 minutes

Get AI-powered summaries with key insights from 1 book by Hugo Mercier.