The Enigma of Reason

It seems that the reason that makes us human is the source of knowledge and wisdom. However, why didn't it evolve in other animals? And if it's so useful, why do we produce so much thoroughly reasoned nonsense? In their groundbreaking account of the evolution and workings of reason, Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber set out to solve this double enigma. They argue that reason isn't designed to help us arrive at better beliefs and decisions on our own; instead, what reason does is help us justify our beliefs and actions to others through argumentation and convince them through arguments. This interactionist interpretation explains why reason may have evolved and how it fits with other cognitive mechanisms.