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Why Do We Think? : the Evolution of the Rational Mind by Ronald de Sousa is a nonfiction available to read on EtoBox.

What is Why Do We Think? : the Evolution of the Rational Mind about?

<p><P>In a world where natural selection has shaped adaptations of astonishing ingenuity, what is the scope and unique power of rational thinking? <P>In this short but wide-ranging book, philosopher Ronald de Sousa looks at the twin set of issues surrounding the power of natural selection to mimic rational design, and rational thinking as itself a product of natural selection. <P>While we commonly deem ourselves superior to other species, the logic of natural selection should not lead us to expect that nature does everything for the best. Similarly, rational action does not always promote the best possible outcomes. So what is the difference? Is the pursuit of rationality actually an effective strategy? <P>Part of the answer lies in language, including mathematics and science. Language is the most striking device by which we have made ourselves smarter than our nearest primate cousins. Sometimes the purely instinctual responses we share with other animals put explicit reasoning to shame&#58; the movements of a trained athlete are faster and more accurate than anything she could explicitly calculate. Language, however, with its power to abstract from concrete experience and to range

Who reads Why Do We Think? : the Evolution of the Rational Mind?

Author

Ronald de Sousa

Publisher

Oxford University Press, Incorporated

Published

2007

Language

EN

ISBN

9780199861583

Category

nonfiction

Subjects

Philosophy, Science, Anthropology

Rating

3.08 / 5 (12 ratings)

Updated

2026-03-14