In this Book

buy this book Buy This Book in Print
summary

From sex and music to religion and politics, a history of irrationality and the ways in which it has always been with us—and always will be

In this sweeping account of irrationality from antiquity to the rise of Twitter mobs and the election of Donald Trump, Justin Smith argues that irrationality makes up the greater part of human life and history. Ranging across philosophy, politics, and current events, he shows that, throughout history, every triumph of reason has been temporary and reversible, and that rational schemes often result in their polar opposite. Illuminating unreason at a moment when the world appears to have gone mad again, Irrationality is timely, provocative, and fascinating.

Table of Contents

restricted access Download Full Book
  1. Cover
  2. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Title Page, Frontispiece, Copyright, Dedication
  2. pp. i-viii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Contents
  2. pp. ix-xiv
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Preamble. A Mathematician’s Murder
  2. pp. 1-4
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Introduction
  2. pp. 5-26
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. The Self-Devouring Octopus; or, Logic
  2. pp. 27-50
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. “No-Brainers”; or, Reason in Nature
  2. pp. 51-72
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. The Sleep of Reason; or, Dreams
  2. pp. 73-98
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Dreams into Things; or, Art
  2. pp. 99-130
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. “I believe because it is absurd”; or, Pseudoscience
  2. pp. 131-165
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Enlightenment; or, Myth
  2. pp. 166-199
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. The Human Beast; or, the Internet
  2. pp. 200-228
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Explosions; or, Jokes and Lies
  2. pp. 229-251
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. The Impossible Syllogism; or, Death
  2. pp. 252-286
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Conclusion
  2. pp. 287-290
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Acknowledgments
  2. pp. 291-292
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Notes
  2. pp. 293-312
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Bibliography
  2. pp. 313-324
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Index
  2. pp. 325-330
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
Back To Top

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.