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Periodical
PeriodicalLarge Print Book
Author Pinker, Steven, 1954- author.

Title Rationality : what it is, why it seems scarce, why it matters / Steven Pinker.

Publication Info. New York, New York : Random House Large Print, [2021]

Copies

Location Call No. Status
 New Britain, Main Library - Large Print Materials  LP 153.42 PIN    Check Shelf
Edition First large print edition.
Description xvi, 602 pages (large print) : illustrations ; 24 cm
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 487-544) and index.
Summary Today humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding - and also appears to be losing its mind. Steven Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply irrational. Pinker explores how the rational pursuit of self-interest, sectarian solidarity, and uplifting mythology can add up to crippling irrationality in a society. Collective rationality depends on norms that are explicitly designed to promote objectivity and truth. Rationality leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress.
Contents How rational an animal? -- Rationality and irrationality -- Logic and critical thinking -- Probability and randomness -- Beliefs and evidence (Bayesian reasoning) -- Risk and reward (rational choice and expected utility) -- Hits and false alarms (signal detection and statistical decision theory) -- Self and others (game theory) -- Correlation and causation -- What's wrong with people? -- Why rationality matters.
Subject Choice (Psychology)
Critical thinking.
Practical reason.
Large type books.
Choice (Psychology) (OCoLC)fst00858327
Critical thinking. (OCoLC)fst00883692
Practical reason. (OCoLC)fst01074530
Genre/Form Large type books.
ISBN 9780593460160 (paperback)
0593460162 (paperback)
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