Pinker’s Guide to Good Thinking


REVIEW: ‘Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters’

Face it: Human beings are pretty stupid sometimes. We fall for astrology, vote for morons, buy into conspiracy theories, and send our money to obvious scammers. Today, all this seems to be getting worse as “fake news” and “disinformation” take root and the country fragments along partisan lines—not just when it comes to political beliefs but even when it comes to basic facts.

Oddly enough, though, we’re also stunningly brilliant. Not only have the brightest among us produced stunning feats of science and technology, but even normal people, working without modern tools, can use reason to improve their lives. The hunting-and-gathering that humans did long ago required extensive knowledge and careful thought about plants, seasons, animal behavior, and how humans might get what they want from the world around them.

Continue reading the entire piece here at The Washington Free Beacon

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Robert VerBruggen is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

Read the Full Article here: >Manhattan Institute