Hugo Mercier - ENS

13 Oct. 2025 - 13 Oct. 2025

Microeconomics Seminar: Mondays
Time: 14h00 – 15h15
Date: 13/10/2025
Room: 3001

Hugo MERCIER (ENS) – “Why do Humans Reason?”

CV : Dan Sperber and I have developed the interactionist theory of reasoning (AKA the argumentative theory of reasoning). According to this theory, the main functions of human reason would be social: to produce and evaluate arguments and justifications in dialogic contexts. The theory makes sense of otherwise puzzling features of human reason--the myside bias and other failures of individual reasoning, as well as the successes of argumentation--as is exposed at length in the book and the BBS paper linked to below. With a many great colleagues, we have conducted experiments on reasoning and argumentation with adults and children in various cultures, from Maya communities in Guatemala to Japanese students.

Organizers:

Julien COMBE (Pôle d’Economie du CREST)
Yves Le YAOUANQ (Pôle d’Economie du CREST)
Matias NUNEZ (Pôle d’Economie du CREST)

Sponsor:
CREST