Hugo Mercier & Dan Sperber Books
Hugo Mercier is a cognitive scientist at the Institut Jean Nicod in Paris, specializing in reasoning and communication. Dan Sperber is a social and cognitive scientist, known for his work on relevance theory and cultural evolution, and is a researcher at the Central European University and the Institut Jean Nicod.
Known for: The Enigma of Reason
Books by Hugo Mercier & Dan Sperber
The Enigma of Reason
In this groundbreaking work, cognitive scientists Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber propose a radical new theory of human reason. They argue that reasoning evolved not to help individuals achieve greater knowledge or make better decisions, but to enable social cooperation and argumentation. By reframing reason as a social rather than individual faculty, the authors explain many of its apparent flaws—such as confirmation bias—as adaptive features that promote group cohesion and communication.
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Historical and Philosophical Background
For centuries, reason has occupied a central place in Western philosophy. From Aristotle’s logic to Descartes’ rational method to Kant’s moral reasoning, the tradition has assumed that reason’s primary function is to guide individuals toward truth and moral insight. Philosophers imagined the rationa...
From The Enigma of Reason
Critique of the Intellectualist Model
When we analyze reasoning through laboratory experiments, we often find that individuals fail spectacularly at tasks requiring logic or probability judgment. Studies show people are better at evaluating arguments when they relate to social rules or when presented in contexts of dialogue. The intelle...
From The Enigma of Reason
About Hugo Mercier & Dan Sperber
Hugo Mercier is a cognitive scientist at the Institut Jean Nicod in Paris, specializing in reasoning and communication. Dan Sperber is a social and cognitive scientist, known for his work on relevance theory and cultural evolution, and is a researcher at the Central European University and the Insti...
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Hugo Mercier is a cognitive scientist at the Institut Jean Nicod in Paris, specializing in reasoning and communication. Dan Sperber is a social and cognitive scientist, known for his work on relevance theory and cultural evolution, and is a researcher at the Central European University and the Insti...
Hugo Mercier is a cognitive scientist at the Institut Jean Nicod in Paris, specializing in reasoning and communication. Dan Sperber is a social and cognitive scientist, known for his work on relevance theory and cultural evolution, and is a researcher at the Central European University and the Institut Jean Nicod.
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Hugo Mercier is a cognitive scientist at the Institut Jean Nicod in Paris, specializing in reasoning and communication. Dan Sperber is a social and cognitive scientist, known for his work on relevance theory and cultural evolution, and is a researcher at the Central European University and the Institut Jean Nicod.
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