Today humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding--and also appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that developed vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, medical quackery, and conspiracy theorizing? Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply irrational--cavemen out of time saddled with biases, fallacies, and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives, and set out the benchmarks for rationality itself. We actually think in ways that are sensible in the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we’ve discovered over the millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, correlation and causation, and optimal ways to update beliefs and commit to choices individually and with others. These tools are not a standard part of our education and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book--until now. Rationality also explores its opposite: 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 matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with Pinker’s customary insight and humor, Rationality will enlighten, inspire, and empower. 432 pages.
Well, we are on the last lap of 2022. We started with COVID, went to a war, then to inflation, and are ending on an election. Are you still on your medication? Double the dose? Prepare yourself for a summary chat of the year and some speculation on what might be in store for us next year.
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With heavy hearts, we announce the death of longtime RET member, Patrick Joseph Cannon. He passed away on October 22, 2022 at the age of 68. Pat played a major role in setting up our current web page and membership record management software.
Friends are encouraged to leave their condolences on his memorial page: https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/tn/knoxville/patrick-joseph-cannon-15402958
Then
Now
RET members who were active in 2005-2010 will remember Clarabelle McCaffrey, daughter of Patty and John McCaffrey. She now goes by "Clare" McCaffrey and is entering college later this year. She has written a book, If the Sky Had Faces, which is available on amazon.com.
Save the Dates!
Saturday, December 17: Winter Solstice Party at the King's
Sunday, February 5: RET's Annual Business Meeting
There is now an official nomination committee, so members who are interested in serving on the board (or on the nominations committee) should contact bod@rationalists.org.
There is now an official nomination committee, so members who are interested in serving on the board (or on the nominations committee) should contact bod@rationalists.org.
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