Description
Although reason and rationality are our friends in almost all contexts in some cases people are better off putting reason aside In a number of very important situations we benefit by not seeing the world as it is and by not behaving like logicdriven machines
The Uses of Delusion is about aspects of human nature that are not altogether rational but nonetheless help us achieve our social and personal goals Psychologist Stuart Vyse presents a lively accessible exploration of the psychological concepts behind useful delusions fleshing out how delusional thinking may play a role in love and relationships illness and loss and personality and behavior Along the way Vyse draws on the work of William James Daniel Kahneman and Joan Didionwho wrote about her compelling belief that her husband though deceased would soon return to her
Throughout Vyse strives to answer the question why would some of our most illogical beliefs be as helpful as they are The concluding chapter offers an explanation grounded in natural selectionthe ability to fool ourselves Vyse argues has actually helped us to survive In the last section of The Uses of Delusion Vyse offers suggestions for determining when reason should rule and when intuition and emotion should be allowed to take over
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