A 'kluge' is an engineering term for a makeshift solution, an inelegant construction that somehow works. This is Gary Marcus's analogy for the way the human mind has evolved. Arguing against a whole tradition that praises our human minds as the most perfect result of evolution, Marcus shows how imperfect and ill-adapted our brains really are. They have had to adapt from the environment of our early hominid origins to a complex world in which our penchant for short-term satisfactions is literally fatal. We are prone to rages, addictions and other habits that limit our capacity for rational action in every sphere, from food to politics. A breathtaking, witty and revolutionary book.
ISBN: | 9780571236527 |
Publisher: | Faber & Faber |
Imprint: | Faber & Faber |
Published date: | 05 Mar 2009 |
DEWEY: | 153 |
DEWEY edition: | 22 |
Language: | English |
Number of pages: | 211 |
Weight: | 180g |
Height: | 195mm |
Width: | 127mm |
Spine width: | 15mm |