Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - April 2011 - Volume 34, Issue 02  

Open Peer Commentary

When reasoning is persuasive but wrong

Robert J. Sternberga1

a1 Provost and Senior Vice President, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078. Robert.sternberg@okstate.edu

Abstract

Mercier and Sperber (M&S) are correct that reasoning and argumentation are closely related. But they are wrong in arguing that this relationship is one of evolutionary adaptation. In fact, persuasive reasoning that is not veridical can be fatal to the individual and to the propagation of his or her genes, as well as to the human species as a whole.

(Online publication March 29 2011)

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    Why do humans reason? Arguments for an argumentative theory Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber Philosophy, Politics and Economics Program, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104. hmercier@sas.upenn.edu http://sites.google.com/site/hugomercier/; Jean Nicod Institute (EHESS-ENS-CNRS), 75005 Paris, France; Department of Philosophy, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary. dan@sperber.fr http://www.dan.sperber.fr