Within Reason - by Donald Calne (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

It has long been a central conviction of western humanistic thought that reason is the most godlike of human traits, and that it makes us unique among animals. Yet if reason directs what we do, why is human behavior so often violent, irrational and disastrous?

In Within Reason, leading neurologist Donald B. Calne investigates the phenomenon of rationality from an astonishingly wide array of scientific, sociological, and philosophical perspectives--and shows that although reason evolved as a crucial tool for human survival, it is an aspect of mind and brain which has no inherent moral or spiritual qualities and one whose relationship to our thoughts and actions may not be as central as we want to believe. Learned, lucid, and always illuminating, Within Reason brings together the latest developments in the science of mind with some of the most enduring questions of Western thought.

From the Back Cover

It has long been a central conviction of Western humanistic thought that reason is the most godlike of human traits, and that it makes us unique among animals. Because of this we have believed that reason is the centerpiece of our decision-making process. Yet if reason directs what we do, why is human behavior so often violent, irrational, and disastrous?

In Within Reason, leading neurologist Donald B. Calne investigates the phenomenon of rationality from an astonishingly wide array of scientific, sociological, and philosophical perspectives. In the process he finds that although reason evolved as a crucial tool for human survival, it is an aspect of the mind and brain that has no inherent moral or spiritual qualities and one whose relationship to our thoughts and actions may not be as central as we want to believe. Learned, lucid, and always illuminating, Within Reason brings the latest developments in the science of mind together with some of the most enduring questions of Western thought.

Review Quotes

"A brilliant dissection of reason and its essential limitations--a neurologist's Critique of Reason."--Oliver Sacks

About the Author

Donald B. Calne is director of the Neurodegenerative Disorders Center at Vancouver Hospital and professor of neurology at the University of British Columbia. He lives in Vancouver, B.C.